KD NEWS SERVICE
GANDHINAGAR, June 29: In a landmark moment for India’s international financial ecosystem, GIFT Nifty has reached its highest-ever Open Interest, reflecting the growing confidence of global investors in India’s offshore derivatives market and reinforcing GIFT IFSC’s emergence as a world-class international financial centre. On June 25, 2026, GIFT Nifty recorded a historic Open Interest of 446,150 contracts valued at US$21.56 billion (approximately ₹2.04 lakh crore), setting a new benchmark in the platform’s relatively young but remarkably successful journey.
The achievement represents much more than another market record. It underscores the rapid evolution of GIFT Nifty into a globally recognised trading platform that has become an increasingly important gateway for international investors seeking exposure to India’s growth story. The steady expansion in market participation, liquidity and trading activity reflects the growing trust that global institutions have placed in India’s international financial architecture.
The latest milestone surpasses the previous record established on October 24, 2025, when Open Interest stood at 410,100 contracts with a value of US$21.23 billion. The increase in both the number of outstanding contracts and their overall value points to sustained investor participation and strengthening market depth, two critical indicators of a mature and vibrant derivatives market.
Open Interest is widely regarded as one of the most important gauges of market confidence, as it represents the total number of outstanding derivative contracts that remain active at any given point in time. Rising Open Interest is often associated with expanding investor participation, improving liquidity and stronger conviction among market participants. GIFT Nifty’s latest record therefore signals not only increasing trading activity but also the willingness of investors to maintain larger positions, reflecting confidence in both the product and the broader Indian economy.
The achievement is the latest milestone in an extraordinary growth story that began when GIFT Nifty commenced full-scale operations on July 3, 2023. In less than three years, the platform has witnessed exponential expansion, recording a cumulative trading volume of more than 69.56 million contracts and an aggregate trading turnover exceeding US$3.21 trillion as of June 25, 2026. Such remarkable growth illustrates how rapidly the platform has gained acceptance among international market participants and established itself as a preferred venue for trading Indian equity derivatives beyond domestic market hours.
Industry observers believe that this sustained momentum reflects the increasing globalisation of India’s capital markets. As international investors continue to diversify their portfolios and seek efficient access to one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies, GIFT Nifty has emerged as a strategically important platform offering internationally regulated, transparent and technologically advanced market infrastructure.
The exchange attributed the milestone to the unwavering support of market participants, brokers, institutional investors, trading members and other stakeholders who have collectively contributed to the rapid expansion of the GIFT Nifty ecosystem. Their continued participation has helped transform what began as a new international trading platform into one of the most successful offshore derivatives products linked to the Indian equity market.
The record also highlights the growing stature of the NSE International Exchange (NSE IX), which operates from GIFT IFSC and has established itself as the dominant exchange within India’s international financial services ecosystem. Since its establishment in June 2017, NSE IX has steadily expanded its product offerings while maintaining a market share exceeding 99.6 percent within GIFT IFSC, demonstrating its leadership in the international exchange landscape.
Today, the exchange offers a comprehensive range of financial products spanning Indian single-stock derivatives, index derivatives, currency derivatives, depository receipts and global equities. Beyond trading, it also provides a robust platform for primary market listings, including equity shares, Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPACs), Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs), depository receipts and debt securities under the regulatory framework of the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA).Further strengthening its global appeal, NSE IX and GIFT Nifty have secured important regulatory recognitions from leading international regulators. These include Part 30 exemption from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and class relief from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), enabling eligible U.S. investors to participate in derivative contracts listed on the exchange. Such recognitions enhance the exchange’s international credibility and reinforce its position within the global financial marketplace.The latest record comes at a time when India is steadily strengthening its position in global finance and attracting unprecedented international investor interest. As market participation deepens and liquidity continues to expand, GIFT Nifty is increasingly being viewed as a critical pillar of India’s ambition to build a globally competitive financial centre capable of serving investors across continents and time zones.
More importantly, the achievement reflects the success of a long-term vision to create an internationally benchmarked financial ecosystem within India that combines world-class regulation, modern infrastructure and global accessibility. Every new record strengthens GIFT IFSC’s standing as an international gateway to Indian capital markets while enhancing India’s reputation as a trusted destination for global financial activity.
With record Open Interest, rapidly expanding trading volumes and sustained institutional participation, GIFT Nifty has once again demonstrated that it is no longer merely an emerging market platform but an increasingly significant player in the global derivatives landscape.
As international investor confidence continues to deepen, the latest milestone marks not just another record for the exchange but another defining chapter in India’s journey towards becoming a leading global financial powerhouse.
