Union Minister Jayant Chaudhary Declares ₹43 Lakh in Cryptocurrency Investments

New Delhi: In what is being seen as the first instance of a Union Cabinet minister including virtual digital assets in official disclosures, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Jayant Chaudhary and his spouse Charu Singh have declared a combined ₹43 lakh in cryptocurrency holdings.

According to documents accessed by The Indian Express, Chaudhary declared cryptocurrency investments worth ₹21.31 lakh as of March 31, 2025, while Charu Singh disclosed ₹22.41 lakh. The couple cited “personal savings” as the source of funds.

Their latest filings mark a steady growth from June 2024, when Chaudhary had reported holdings of ₹17.9 lakh and Singh ₹19 lakh. This translates into an estimated 19% increase for Chaudhary and 18% for Singh within nine months, reflecting the broader surge in digital asset valuations.

The disclosures were published on the website of the Prime Minister’s Office as part of the annual Assets and Liabilities of the Union Council of Ministers report. Speaking to IE, Chaudhary said these were “old investments which have just been carried over.” He added: “At the time of investment, it was 2–3 percent of my portfolio as a highly speculative bet. It also fits into my wide range of investments, which includes a large allocation to art.”

Beyond cryptocurrencies, the minister has declared immovable assets valued at ₹33.23 crore (current market value) and movable assets worth ₹14.51 crore. His spouse Charu Singh has declared ₹2.15 crore in immovable assets and ₹9.54 crore in movable properties.

The move is being widely viewed as a significant step towards mainstreaming digital assets in India, given that no other Union minister has previously reported cryptocurrency holdings in their official filings.