When it comes to crypto regulations Indonesia, the official stance from Bank Indonesia and Bappebti that defines how digital assets can be bought, sold, and held by residents. Also known as Indonesian cryptocurrency rules, these policies don’t ban crypto—they just make it hard to use like real money. Unlike countries that fully embrace crypto as legal tender, Indonesia treats it as a commodity, not currency. That means you can trade it, but you can’t pay for coffee with Bitcoin. The central bank, Bank Indonesia, the nation’s monetary authority that blocks banks from processing crypto transactions, has been clear: no crypto payments through banks. If you try to link your BCA or Mandiri account to Binance, it’ll get blocked. That’s why most traders use peer-to-peer platforms instead.
Trading crypto is legal, but only through Bappebti, the Indonesian commodity futures trading regulatory agency that licenses crypto exchanges-approved platforms. As of 2025, only 11 exchanges are officially licensed—things like Indodax, Pintu, and Tokocrypto. These platforms must follow strict KYC rules, report transactions, and keep user funds separate. But here’s the catch: they can’t offer staking, DeFi, or tokenized assets. If you’re using a foreign exchange like Binance or Kraken, you’re technically violating the rules. The government doesn’t arrest people for this—but they can freeze your bank account if they catch you moving large sums. And with AI-powered transaction monitoring getting smarter, it’s harder to fly under the radar.
What about mining? Not a thing here. Indonesia has no laws allowing crypto mining for profit. Any hardware running 24/7 could attract attention from tax authorities or energy regulators. The country’s power grid is already strained, and crypto mining is seen as a waste of electricity. Even if you’re mining for yourself, you’re not allowed to sell the coins locally without a license—and no one has one for mining.
So what’s the real situation? People still trade. A lot. P2P platforms are booming because they let users trade Rupiah for Bitcoin without touching a bank. You’ll find traders on WhatsApp groups, Telegram channels, and local forums swapping cash in person or using e-wallets like OVO and DANA. It’s messy, it’s unofficial, but it works. And because the government hasn’t cracked down hard on individual traders, most people just accept the gray zone.
What you won’t find? Stablecoins. No USDT, no USDC. Bappebti banned them outright, fearing they’d undermine the Rupiah. No DeFi apps. No NFT marketplaces. No crypto lending. The rules are narrow: buy, sell, hold. That’s it. And even that comes with a 0.1% tax on every trade, reported automatically by licensed exchanges.
What follows are real stories from traders who’ve navigated this maze. You’ll see how people avoid scams pretending to be "Indonesian crypto exchanges," why some platforms disappeared overnight, and how a few got lucky finding legal loopholes. Some posts expose fake exchanges targeting new users. Others break down how to file crypto taxes legally—or why you shouldn’t bother unless you’re trading big. You’ll also find what’s changed since 2024, what’s still stuck in bureaucracy, and who’s actually getting fined.
3 March
Indonesia's crypto rules changed in 2025: trading is legal under OJK oversight, but payments are still banned. Capital requirements, tax changes, and asset whitelists now define the market.
