Key Highlights
- Coinbase will deliver expert-led cybersecurity certifications and masterclasses to strengthen digital safety skills in the state.
- Refroid Technologies will introduce India’s first indigenous liquid cooling systems designed for high-performance AI and hyperscale data centers.
- The initiatives are aimed at positioning Karnataka as the country’s leading hub for deeptech innovation and future-ready digital infrastructure.
Coinbase India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Karnataka government alongside Refroid to advance the country’s blockchain ecosystem and strengthen cybersecurity capabilities. Under this agreement, Coinbase will support initiatives such as developer education, startup incubation, and public outreach programs to grow interest and adoption of emerging Web3 technologies.
The company will help nurture a new generation of blockchain developers on Base, its Ethereum Layer 2 network.
The state government, on its part, will extend support through its network of colleges, polytechnic institutions, K-Tech innovation hubs, and startup initiatives.
Together, the collaboration is expected to train more than 10,000 developers, encourage the launch of over 25 new on-chain startups in Karnataka, and create broader public awareness of blockchain through a state-wide campaign during the first year of implementation.
The second focus area of the partnership aims to strengthen cybersecurity preparedness across Karnataka’s startup and academic ecosystems. Coinbase will conduct expert-driven cybersecurity training, including certifications and masterclasses.
The government will work with KDEM, KEONICS, universities, and law enforcement agencies to make these programs widely accessible. More than 1,000 individuals are expected to be trained in cybersecurity fundamentals, and over 100 startups will receive toolkits to enhance their cyber resilience.
Refroid MoU to make Karnataka home to India’s first liquid-cooled AI data centers
Alongside the blockchain push, Karnataka also announced an MoU with Refroid Technologies to establish India’s first fully Made-in-India liquid cooling solutions built specifically for AI, hyperscale, telecom, edge computing and enterprise-grade data centers.
Refroid will deploy a portfolio that includes high-capacity coolant distribution units, immersion cooling systems developed jointly with BPCL using indigenous dielectric coolant, and hybrid loadbanks for integrated testing in liquid-cooled data centers.
These systems are designed to handle high-performance workloads efficiently — a necessity as AI computing demands continue to surge worldwide.
Speaking on the significance of the initiative, Manjula N, Secretary of the IT and Biotechnology Department, said these efforts will “help catapult the State into a new realm of deeptech economy and development and make our goal of Karnataka a model state for innovation in technology.”
Builds on earlier engagement between Coinbase and Karnataka
This is not the first time Karnataka has engaged with Coinbase on a technology-driven agenda. In August this year, Coinbase’s Chief Legal Officer, Paul Grewal, met Priyank Kharge in Bengaluru to discuss collaborative opportunities in blockchain, cybersecurity and developer enablement.
Following the meeting, Grewal posted on X that he was “excited to explore how Coinbase can further support Karnataka’s tech leadership,” adding, “The future is onchain — and it’s being built here.”
Kharge had confirmed that discussions then revolved around easing blockchain development in India, launching joint hackathons and exploring how the technology could be integrated into governance and digital public infrastructure — areas that have now translated into a concrete agreement.
The minister has been pushing for emerging tech adoption since as early as 2017, when he attended a state seminar on blockchain and Bitcoin to build awareness and shape early policy thinking.
Karnataka positions itself at the heart of India’s deeptech growth
With these partnerships in place, Karnataka is looking to strengthen its position as the country’s leading innovation hub. Officials say bringing in global expertise in blockchain while backing homegrown technology for AI data centers will help the state build a stronger talent base, support more startups, and boost India’s technological independence.
As the state moves deeper into an AI- and blockchain-powered future, officials say these initiatives mark the beginning of a long-term strategy to strengthen Karnataka’s digital economy and establish its role as a pioneer in the country’s next wave of technological transformation.
Also Read: Binance CEO: India Could Become a Global Crypto and Web3 Hub
