Mind Over Money – From Badminton to Boho Meditations: How CoinDCX's Sumit Gupta Recharges

Time of India

12-07-2025

In the high-stakes world of crypto entrepreneurship, mental clarity is just as critical as business strategy. For
Sumit Gupta
, Co-Founder of
CoinDCX
, staying grounded amidst volatility is a conscious, daily practice.
Whether it's through morning meditations guided by Boho Beautiful, an energizing game of
badminton
, or late-night walks with his wife, Sumit blends mindfulness with movement to recharge both mind and body.
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In this candid conversation for '
Mind Over Money
' series, he shares how he structures his day for focus, the values that shape CoinDCX's culture, and why laughter, integrity, and intentional living are key to navigating the pressures of
leadership
. Edited Excerpts –
Q) How do you keep yourself mentally fit?
A)
I genuinely believe that physical and mental fitness go hand-in-hand, especially if one wants to perform consistently at a high level. That said, mental fitness is even more critical in the unpredictable and often lonely journey of entrepreneurship.
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You're constantly making decisions with limited data, managing uncertainty, and balancing pressure, all of which takes a toll on your mental health if not managed well.
For me, regular workout sessions with my trainer, playing badminton, or even going for a night walk with my wife helps keep me physically and mentally active. And when it comes to mental clarity, I've found morning meditations to be really helpful -- Just 15 minutes a day before I start my day in the morning is good enough to reset and refocus.
I feel mental fitness begins with awareness and we all as professionals spend a large part of our day with colleagues. So, at CoinDCX, we thought, why not find ways to drive discussions around fitness and motivate each other?
That's how we started a few Slack channels around fitness, travel, and music. It's great to see how these channels have evolved. People share music playlists, meditation tips, healthy food recipes, weekend getaway plans, and even travel ideas.
People across teams engage with each other for things other than work. This adds a human touch to work, and that really helps with mental well-being too.
Q) What does your morning routine look like, and how does it set the tone for your day as a founder?
A)
My mornings are intentionally slow and mindful. It's the only part of the day I try to keep truly for myself.
I begin by praying to God with a few mantras and folded hands. That short moment of gratitude and grounding sets the tone for everything that follows. Then I drink a glass of hot water with lemon, followed by a quick call with my parents and a 10-minute walk inside the house—just to get moving and centered.
After freshening up, I spend 15 minutes in meditation, usually guided sessions from the BOHO Beautiful series. It's incredibly calming and helps me reset my focus before the day's noise kicks in.
Then I shower, have a healthy heavy breakfast with lots of fluids, and catch up with what's happening around the world—whether it's global news, crypto markets, or trends on Twitter and LinkedIn. That blend of inner stillness and outer awareness helps me step into a day full of decisions, meetings, and movement with clarity and intention.
Q) Any mindfulness practices or productivity hacks you swear by during high-stress moments?
A)
Yes. Two, actually.
First, during high-stress moments, I turn to guided breathing, specifically the
Wim Hof Method
. There's a brilliant session on YouTube with over 100 million views that I keep going back to. Just a few minutes of focused breathing resets your nervous system and brings instant clarity.
Second, I take a short break and talk to my family. Just being around them or having a quick call is a reminder of what really matters. It brings perspective and joy and helps me return to work with a lighter head and a fuller heart.
As for productivity hacks, I never rely on memory alone. I maintain all my tasks digitally using the
Microsoft
To Do app, which syncs across all my devices. It's my second brain—where I dump everything on my mind in a written, structured format that drives me to take action.
Once it's out of my head and into that list, I can move on with clarity. And I practice time-boxing: dividing my day into clear slots aligned with my top priorities—work, health, family. It ensures I stay focused and intentional with how I spend my time.
Q) We hear you enjoy stand-up comedy! Has humour helped you navigate tough times as an entrepreneur
A)
Absolutely. I love watching stand-up comedy, whether it's live shows or during dinner with friends and family. Indian comedians are brilliant at creating content that's so relatable, and their ability to make people laugh through everyday struggles is truly underrated. It's one of my favorite ways to unwind and lighten the mood.
As an entrepreneur, I've learned that uncertainty is the only constant. Things rarely go exactly as planned, and life throws curveballs more often than we'd like. In that kind of environment, humor becomes a powerful tool.
You need intensity to build and lead but you also need the ability to laugh things off. That balance helps me stay grounded and resilient.
Q) You talk a lot about building a people-first culture. What's one value that's non-negotiable at CoinDCX?
A)
For me, it's 'Do the Right Thing'. It's also one of our core values at CoinDCX.
We're operating in an industry that's so complex and still evolving. There are no playbooks, and that means the responsibility on us as builders is even higher. We're here to build for the long term, and that starts with earning trust from users, regulators, and our own teams.
Whether it's staying compliant, being transparent, or putting the user first, integrity can't be optional. It has to be in the DNA of how we operate every single day. As entrepreneurs, we don't just build products, we build culture. And culture is built one decision at a time.
Q) We've heard you love chai. If you could share a cup with any thinker — dead or alive — who would it be and why?
A)
Yes, big fan of chai! And also poha, thanks to my Indore roots.
If I could sit down for a long 'chai pe charcha,' I think it would be with
Satoshi
Nakamoto. Imagine chatting with the person or a group of people who created Bitcoin. It's arguably one of the most disruptive innovations of our time, and yet what was going on in the founder's mind while creating it remains a complete mystery.
I'd love to understand what inspired Satoshi, what they envisioned for the world when they wrote that whitepaper, and most intriguingly did they ever imagine that Bitcoin would reach this level of global adoption, influencing people, organizations, and even entire nations?
(
Disclaimer
: Recommendations, suggestions, views, and opinions given by experts are their own. These do not represent the views of the
Economic Times
)