Is Bitcoin illegal in Indonesia

[Claudyah]

some sources I read about some legalized countries and those that do not legalize bitcoin there are Indonesian states that they reject the existence of bitcoin they are most likely afraid of some risks that arise when bitcoin is legalized.

[DeadCoin]

I also heard the news that Indonesia government announced bitcoin as illegal in their country. Because they afraid if they accept people can misuse the bitcoin money. They used for illegal purpose, it cannot be controlled by the government. May be in future it will be legalized by the  Indonesia government. Due to many countries now legalized bitcoin this will make effect in other countries also.

[Kemarit]

I also heard the news that Indonesia government announced bitcoin as illegal in their country. Because they afraid if they accept people can misuse the bitcoin money. They used for illegal purpose, it cannot be controlled by the government. May be in future it will be legalized by the  Indonesia government. Due to many countries now legalized bitcoin this will make effect in other countries also.

As @krishnapramod said in the previous post, Indonesia already legalizes bitcoin trading (as a commodity). So it can freely be traded, but its maybe subject to regulations in the future. Of course, bitcoin being used for illegal purposes blah blah is one of the arguments of nation around the world who decided to ban or go against bitcoin. Yes, there was a crackdown earlier this year, specially around Bali wherein a lot of tourist go and might be bringing bitcoins with them that's why its the first place to be put on the list. So the news that Indonesian commodity futures watchdog legalizing crypto trading is very positive.

[bitcad4u]

Their is nothing to worry about the bitcoin legality in your country.Only thing is you can't use bitcoin as a payment.But it very easy to use it as an asset.Lke a gold,silver and diamond,you can use bitcoin to inverse your money.When you need money ,you can convert the bitcoin into the using FIAT.

[ompoetra]

There is a Prohibition by Bank Indonesia (BI) aimed at financial technology-based service providers including e-commerce so as not to receive bitcoin.Processing of virtual currency is also prohibited. In the context of payment systems, bitcoin is not a valid means of payment in Indonesia. Maybe bitcoin planning will be used in Indonesia, the future of blockchain transaction I think is very good in the future.

[aylisrg]

Interesting how it works, because in Jakarta there is at least one BTC ATM

First proof
https://bitcoinatmmap.com/listing/bitcoin-atm-in-jakarta-at-ratu-plaza-general-bytes-by-coinunited-io/

Second
https://coinatmradar.com/bitcoin_atm/25672/bitcoin-atm-general-bytes-jakarta-ratu-plaza/

[YOSHIE]

Thank you for your answers! I will reply in about a hour.

Need to be noted.

Bitcoin in indonesia is neither illegal nor legal, understand what i mean, just like other countries, but in indonesia it is ruled to allow some crypto exchanges there, by the government (Bappebti), what's more, Bali, it's the center of Bitcoin trading, it's impossible, if you go to Bali it's hard to find cryoto/Bitcoin.

If you are from foreign country/Tourist, if you want to do Crypto exchange especially Bitcoin.
You look for this address, there you can make crypto to fiat transactions, because you don't have local bank books and local crypto exchanges.

NAKULA BALI
Address : Jl. Nakula No. 88 B Legian, Kuta, Badung Regency, Bali 80361
for the office it is next to the Pork star restaurant and 3.4 KM from the stones hotel legian bali
Opening hours :
09.00 WITA – 18.00 WITA (Monday-Saturday).

UBUD BALI
Address : Jl. Sukma No. 09, Ubud, Bali 80571
Office Opening Hours : 09:00 WITA – 18:00 WITA (Monday-Friday)
As of November 14 2018 moved to : Blockchain Zoo Building.

If you have found the office post it here.

Or you can also contact the community in this forum on the local Indonesian board, ask there they will help you cash out your Bitcoin into Rupiah or dollars.

[IQnawaz123]

Bitcoin is legal in Indonesia. First of all, you need to register by app or exchange and complete a Know Your Customer(KYC) process.

[zasad@]

https://www.coindesk.com/policy/2024/02/14/indonesia-picks-crypto-friendly-team-in-presidential-election/
Indonesia Picks Crypto-Friendly Team in Presidential Election
"During the presidential campaign, vice-presidential candidate Gibran discussed crypto and blockchain as a means to expand job opportunities for the country’s younger generation.
Former defense minister Prabowo Subianto and his pro-crypto running mate, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, have seemingly come out on top as the country’s next president and vice president."

[dansus021]

I am from Indonesia and yes Bitcoin and other alternative cryptocurrencies here is legal as long you buy it from the centralized exchange that has licensed to operate like indodax.com tokocrypto.com and etc.

Tho this is an old thread I don't know who just bumped to this thread but if you guys want to buy just buy guys they are legal unless you are gonna use it as payment which is illegal for payment.

[Solidized]

I think Bitcoin can be bought and sell when ever you wish to and then convert it to the country legal currency so it can be used effectively to purchase goods and services.

[zasad@]

I am from Indonesia and yes Bitcoin and other alternative cryptocurrencies here is legal as long you buy it from the centralized exchange that has licensed to operate like indodax.com tokocrypto.com and etc.

Tho this is an old thread I don't know who just bumped to this thread but if you guys want to buy just buy guys they are legal unless you are gonna use it as payment which is illegal for payment.

How do I exchange for cash?
I heard that Russian tourists easily exchange cryptocurrencies for cash in Indonesia and live there on the income they receive in cryptocurrencies.
Exchange rates in such exchangers may be 10-20% less than on the stock exchange, but everything is anonymous.

[dansus021]

How do I exchange for cash?
I heard that Russian tourists easily exchange cryptocurrencies for cash in Indonesia and live there on the income they receive in cryptocurrencies.
Exchange rates in such exchangers may be 10-20% less than on the stock exchange, but everything is anonymous.

From the Centralized Exchange tho there is always a method like using the P2P but the rate might be different. I actually rarely use P2P outside the centralized exchange but I think there is one or two sites or people who do transition using this way.

Maybe those Russian tourists using p2p from the CEx and withdraw it without a problem and the only problem is they should make an Indonesia bank account but here creating an account is easy without going to the bank.

I also heard that Indonesian citizens who study in Russia also use Cryptocurrency to do fiat cross exchange maybe because Swift is blocked by I'm not really sure.

[zasad@]

How do I exchange for cash?
I heard that Russian tourists easily exchange cryptocurrencies for cash in Indonesia and live there on the income they receive in cryptocurrencies.
Exchange rates in such exchangers may be 10-20% less than on the stock exchange, but everything is anonymous.

From the Centralized Exchange tho there is always a method like using the P2P but the rate might be different. I actually rarely use P2P outside the centralized exchange but I think there is one or two sites or people who do transition using this way.

Maybe those Russian tourists using p2p from the CEx and withdraw it without a problem and the only problem is they should make an Indonesia bank account but here creating an account is easy without going to the bank.

I also heard that Indonesian citizens who study in Russia also use Cryptocurrency to do fiat cross exchange maybe because Swift is blocked by I'm not really sure.

I was talking about exchanging USDT for cash
https://www.bestchange.ru/tether-trc20-to-dollar-cash-in-bali.html
There are many Russian exchangers in Bali that will exchange your USDT for dollars with a discount of 1.1-4%. I saw a very big discount in exchange offices in India, but in Bali the rates are quite good.

[dansus021]

I was talking about exchanging USDT for cash
https://www.bestchange.ru/tether-trc20-to-dollar-cash-in-bali.html
There are many Russian exchangers in Bali that will exchange your USDT for dollars with a discount of 1.1-4%. I saw a very big discount in exchange offices in India, but in Bali the rates are quite good.

Are you talking like a real cash fiat ?

If so to be honest I never exchange crypto direct into fiat but you might tried it and I actually didn't ever tried the Bestchange. I usually go to Binance Bybit and OKX to withdraw my crypto into fiat via P2P

[zasad@]

I was talking about exchanging USDT for cash
https://www.bestchange.ru/tether-trc20-to-dollar-cash-in-bali.html
There are many Russian exchangers in Bali that will exchange your USDT for dollars with a discount of 1.1-4%. I saw a very big discount in exchange offices in India, but in Bali the rates are quite good.

Are you talking like a real cash fiat ?

If so to be honest I never exchange crypto direct into fiat but you might tried it and I actually didn't ever tried the Bestchange. I usually go to Binance Bybit and OKX to withdraw my crypto into fiat via P2P

I'm talking about fiat. "Cash is king"!(C)

P2P are bank transfers that will forever remain in your transaction history.
And Bali is a very small island, and if you need cash, then you can come to the office and safely exchange cryptocurrency for cash. I know that Russians mostly work illegally and no one will ask you for documents during the exchange

[zasad@]

Indonesia to raise tax rate on crypto transactions
https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/indonesia-raise-tax-rate-crypto-transactions-2025-07-30/
"Indonesia will raise taxes on cryptocurrency transactions, with a higher rate on trades hosted by overseas bourses, starting from August 1, according to a new finance ministry regulation.
Cryptocurrencies have become a popular investment option in Southeast Asia's largest economy, where they are legally traded but cannot be used as a means of payment.

The total transaction value of crypto assets tripled in 2024 from a year earlier to more than 650 trillion rupiah ($39.67 billion), regulator data showed. There were over 20 million users in crypto exchanges in the country in 2024, more than the number of investors in the stock market.
Under the new regulation, sellers of crypto assets in domestic exchanges must pay a 0.21% tax on the transaction value, up from 0.1% previously, while sellers in overseas exchanges are charged 1%, from 0.2% previously.
However, buyers would no longer be subject to a value added tax (VAT). Under previous rules, buyers would pay 0.11-0.22% VAT.
Indonesia also raised the VAT rate on mining of crypto assets to 2.2%, from 1.1%.
A 0.1% special income tax rate on crypto mining was removed, subjecting such income to either personal income tax or corporate tax rates, effective in 2026.
Binance-backed Tokocrypto said it welcomed the changes, which reflect Indonesia's shift in categorising cryptocurrencies as financial assets and away from seeing them as commodities, but it proposed a grace period of at least a month to allow companies to adjust.
"We also emphasize the importance of strengthening oversight and tax enforcement on crypto asset transactions conducted through foreign platforms," Tokocrypto said in a statement.
The company called for fiscal incentives to bolster innovation in the industry, as the new crypto tax rate would still be higher than the capital gains tax rate used in stock market investments."

[UmerIdrees]

Hey 
Iam currently studying on Bali (Indonesia). I thinking about buying some new bitcoins or altcoins.
But i cant find clear statements about the legal situation in this country.
So is it possible to buy bitcoin here ? Or is it illegal and it is dangerous to buy it here ?

Thank you for your answers! I will reply in about a hour.

The problem is that when something is not clearly defined in the country's law, the corrupt government officials can misuse that information and exploit the general people. I do not know about Indonesia, but here in my country, we too maybe in the grey area, meaning that the government does not openly accept it or deny it. Due to this, many people like the P2P traders are misusing this, and the bank accounts are getting frozen because of dealing with crypto payments.

It's better that the government should give a clear stance on crypto, so that people can use crypto easily (if it is allowed) or not use it at all (if it is illegal in the country).