Crypto Regulations Indonesia: What You Need to Know About Trading and Holding Crypto in Indonesia

When it comes to crypto regulations Indonesia, the legal framework around cryptocurrency use, trading, and ownership in Indonesia. Also known as Indonesian crypto laws, it’s a mix of outright bans, gray-area allowances, and heavy enforcement. Unlike countries that welcome crypto as an asset, Indonesia’s central bank, Bank Indonesia, has made it clear: crypto is not legal tender. But here’s the twist—you can still buy, sell, and trade it. Just not as money. You can only use it as a commodity, under the supervision of the Commodity Futures Trading Regulatory Agency (Bappebti).

This distinction matters because it’s why millions of Indonesians still trade crypto daily. They don’t use it to pay for coffee or rent. They buy Bitcoin or Ethereum hoping it’ll go up in value, then sell it for rupiah. Platforms like Binance P2P, Tokocrypto, and Indodax thrive because they operate as commodity exchanges, regulated platforms where crypto is treated like gold or soybeans, not currency. Also known as crypto trading platforms, they’re required to follow strict KYC and AML rules. If you’re caught using crypto to send money across borders or avoid taxes, you’re in trouble. But if you’re just buying and holding? You’re in the quiet majority.

But the risks? They’re real. Scams are everywhere. Fake airdrops, cloned exchanges, and fake wallet apps target new users who don’t know the difference between a real platform and a phishing site. The Indonesian government doesn’t protect your crypto if you get hacked. Courts won’t help you recover stolen funds. And if you’re caught mining or running a crypto business without a license? You could face fines or jail time. That’s why so many people stick to P2P trading using local payment apps like Dana, OVO, or GoPay—no bank involvement, no paper trail, no oversight. It’s risky, but it works.

There’s no official crypto tax law yet, but Bappebti and the tax agency (DJP) are watching. If you make profits from trading, you’re technically supposed to report it. Most don’t. But that could change fast. Indonesia’s digital economy is growing, and the government knows crypto isn’t going away. They’re not banning it outright—they’re trying to control it. That means more rules, more reporting, and more pressure on exchanges to lock down users.

What you’ll find below are real stories from people who’ve been burned, platforms that turned out to be fake, and the few legit ways to trade safely in Indonesia. No fluff. No guesses. Just what’s actually happening on the ground.