Indian Crypto YouTuber Budhil Vyas Banned for Two Weeks

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A well-known cryptocurrency influencer from India, Budhil Vyas, has stated that his YouTube channel was temporarily banned for a period of two weeks due to accusations of overstating financial advice regarding crypto investments. Vyas views this temporary ban as harassment and believes that YouTube is unfairly targeting Indian content creators with arbitrary bans.

On the social media platform X, Vyas disclosed that he had been given a two-week ban on his YouTube channel ‘Crypto Talks’, which boasts over 220,000 subscribers. At present, YouTube has hidden his videos from view on his public profile.

Additionally, Vyas shared a snapshot containing the four clips from his account which were marked by YouTube, and it so happened that each video’s title suggested unattainable profits in quick cryptocurrency investments. As stated by Vyas, these videos were tagged as “potentially harmful or risky content” by YouTube.

Vyas stated that he received a 14-day ban without any given reason, right as his previous ban concluded. There were no specified violations or explanations provided. However, this isn’t just an issue related to cryptocurrency; it’s about the future of every Indian content creator on YouTube.

As an analyst, I too have observed suspicions regarding YouTube management’s actions towards Indian content creators. It seems they may be employing questionable measures such as arbitrary suspensions and bans, which could potentially undermine the presence of these popular YouTubers on their platform.

Vyas stated, “Education about cryptocurrencies isn’t illegal. Reviewing apps isn’t a violation. Teaching financial literacy isn’t wrong. Yet, why are Indian content creators being singled out? Why is there no transparency in the rules? Why aren’t clear guidelines provided? Why is there no substantial support given? This isn’t just about enforcing policies anymore; it’s about ensuring the survival of Indian educators who’ve spent years constructing educational communities.

Yet, some found Vyas’ appeal less convincing due to the skepticism surrounding the seemingly implausible financial guarantees presented in the four videos on his YouTube channel, which eventually resulted in a ban.

Dear Sir, I believe YouTube has done an excellent job safeguarding its users. It’s important to clarify that earning Rs 5000 daily through Binance futures, memecoins with 100x multipliers, or coins promising 300% profit is highly unlikely without significant risk. In fact, only a minuscule fraction of people (less than 1%) make money in such ventures, while the vast majority (99%) end up losing their investments.

— Justice for WazirX Users (@IndiasCrypto) January 5, 2025

What does YouTube Terms of Service Say About Crypto Creators?

YouTube’s creator guidelines, though not specifically addressing crypto influencers, provide clear guidance within the ‘scam’ section of their content policies. Essentially, YouTube prohibits any content that makes overly optimistic claims or promises to viewers.

Furthermore, as reported in The Mint newspaper in November, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) took action between June and August 2024, removing approximately 15,000 pieces of content providing unauthorized financial advice from social media platforms like YouTube.

Perhaps the recent event involving an Indian crypto influencer underlines the importance not only of a collective voice among social media content creators in India, but also of self-reflection by these influencers about the type of content they endorse.

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2025-01-05 23:00