Cryptocurrencies

Bitcoin Takes on Gold for Diwali, Helped by Top Bollywood Stars

Amitabh Bachchan gestures to his fans gathered outside his residence to celebrate his birthday in Mumbai on Oct. 11.

Photographer: Sujit Jaiswal/AFP/Getty Images
Lock
This article is for subscribers only.

Ahead of Diwali, two of Bollywood’s leading men are pitching another option during India’s annual gold shopping spree: cryptocurrencies.

India’s top two crypto platforms have each tapped stars -- one, Amitabh Bachchan, may be the most famous Indian actor of all time -- to promote cryptocurrencies as a superior and easy investment ahead of Dhanteras, the most auspicious day in the Hindu calendar to buy gold or start new ventures. Indians have expanded their Diwali investments to include stocks, real estate, diamonds and other assets.