WazirX ‘ZERO’ Rollout: Auto Enrollment Claims Spark Backlash

WazirX is facing renewed backlash after users reported that they were auto enrolled into the exchange’s paid WazirX ZERO plan, with monthly fees deducted from INR balances or, in some allegations, recovered by selling crypto holdings, without clear user consent. The controversy escalated after users shared renewal related emails that appear to assume an active subscription, even for accounts where users claim they never opted in.

Complaints have spread across X, with posts framing the move as a “dark pattern” style billing trap & warning that the platform is risking a fresh credibility hit at a time when user trust remains fragile.

• What WazirX ZERO is
• Where the controversy comes from
• What users say they want next
• What to do if you think you were charged

What WazirX ZERO is

WazirX ZERO is a subscription model introduced by the exchange to replace per trade fees with a flat monthly charge. In WazirX’s own messaging, the offer is simple: unlimited crypto trading with zero trading fees for ₹99 per month plus applicable taxes.

The company also stated that the model went live for all users from 1 December 2025, with a 15 day Free Pass for existing users from 1 to 15 December, after which the subscription continues with monthly billing.

On paper, it is a standard “subscription replaces usage fees” play. In practice, users are now questioning the activation & renewal mechanics, especially around what happens after the Free Pass ends.

Two specific email formats have become the flashpoint.

1. In one, users are told that the platform was unable to process a WazirX ZERO renewal due to insufficient funds, while highlighting “automated monthly renewal” & urging users to add funds so the renewal can be processed automatically once there is enough balance.
2. In another, users are told their renewal was due on 16 December 2025, with WazirX stating it has added a partial number of days to the cycle based on the user’s current balance & that once more funds are added, the full ₹99 plus taxes renewal charge will be collected automatically & a new monthly cycle will begin from that day.

New Day, New SCAM 🤷🏻#WazirX has forcefully deducted 120 INR from all dormant accounts, saying they have opted for "WazirX ZERO".

So they basically auto-deduct from all accounts that have NOT opted for the service without their CONSENT

Isn't this is illegal and a FRAUD ??🤨 pic.twitter.com/UEPhMOYkR2

— Ajay Kashyap (@EverythingAjay) December 18, 2025

Where the controversy comes from

From the outside, there are two competing interpretations of what users are seeing:

Interpretation A: Default continuation after Free Pass
If the Free Pass was applied broadly to existing users, a product design choice may have been made for “continuation” to occur automatically unless a user actively switches out. That approach is common in subscription businesses, but it becomes controversial when the opt out path is not prominent, or when users later feel they were never asked.

Interpretation B: Mistaken or opaque enrollment
Users reporting that they never enabled ZERO are alleging something stronger than “auto renew.” They are alleging “auto enroll.” If true, it becomes a consent issue, not a product preference issue.

Right now, the public evidence is largely user screenshots, posts, email copies, & secondary coverage. Even if the monthly charge is small, this moment hits multiple sensitive nerves in crypto:

1. Consent is the product: Crypto users are hypersensitive to anything that looks like custodial overreach: “my balance can be used in ways I didn’t explicitly authorize.” The moment a platform’s billing feels non consensual, the conversation shifts from “pricing” to “control.”
2. Subscription logic collides with exchange trust: A subscription model assumes a familiar SaaS style relationship. An exchange relationship is different: people think in terms of custody, liquidity, & withdrawal rights. Mixing the two without over communicating the rules is risky, especially when the platform has already faced major scrutiny in recent years.
3. Timing matters: WazirX has publicly described its comeback & trading resumption journey in 2025, including steps tied to reopening & restoring activity on the platform. In that environment, product changes that users read as aggressive monetization can be perceived as tone deaf, even if they are commercially rational.

Welcome to the Zero Trading Fee Era 💪

WazirX ZERO is now live for everyone ⚡️

You can trade crypto with zero trading fee, unlimited times, starting today 🥳

Every user gets a 15-Day Free Pass to begin with. After the free period ends on 15 December, WazirX ZERO continues at… pic.twitter.com/IQ5TtdlZxq

— WazirX: India Ka Bitcoin Exchange (@WazirXIndia) December 1, 2025

What users say they want next

Across the complaints, the demands cluster into a few straightforward asks:

1. A clear public statement explaining whether ZERO continuation after the Free Pass is default, how users were notified, & what explicit consent looks like.
2. A one tap cancellation that is visible, not buried in settings, plus a confirmation email when a user opts out.
3. Refunds or reversals for users who can show they did not intend to subscribe.
4. A transparent billing log inside the app that shows: enrollment trigger, trial start & end, renewal date, deduction method, invoice, & cancellation date.

WazirX already references a renewal history view & invoices in its messaging, but users are questioning whether that is enough when the dispute is about activation itself.

What to do if you think you were charged

If you believe you were billed without intending to subscribe, the practical steps are:

• Check WazirX ZERO status in the app settings & review renewal history, invoices, & dates (especially around 15 to 16 December 2025).
• Capture evidence: screenshots of plan status, invoices, email timestamps, & balance changes.
• Switch plan to standard pay per trade if that option is available in your account (WazirX’s FAQ says switching is possible).
• Raise a support ticket requesting clarification on the enrollment trigger & asking for a refund if you did not consent.
• Avoid adding funds until you understand the renewal rule if you are concerned that topping up will automatically trigger additional collection, as suggested by the renewal email language.

For critics, the most alarming part is not the pricing. It’s the implied premise: the emails read as if ZERO is already active, even for users who insist they never chose to enable it.

If you find any issues in this blog or notice any missing information, please feel free to reach out at yash@etherworld.co for clarifications or updates.

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