Indonesian Crypto Exchange Capital Calculator
Calculate Your Required Capital
According to OJK regulations, licensed crypto exchanges in Indonesia must meet two key capital requirements:
Minimum paid-up capital: 100 billion Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) or approximately $6 million USD
Minimum equity requirement: 50 billion Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) or approximately $3 million USD
Current exchange rate: 1 USD = 15,000 IDR
Enter amounts to see if your capital meets requirements
Indonesia’s crypto market isn’t just growing-it’s being rebuilt from the ground up. As of January 10, 2025, the Indonesian crypto exchange landscape changed forever. The old regulator, BAPPEBTI, is gone. In its place stands the Otoritas Jasa Keuangan (OJK) Indonesia’s Financial Services Authority, now the sole regulator for digital financial assets under the new DFA framework. If you’re running or planning to launch a crypto platform in Indonesia, you need to know exactly what this means-and how to survive it.
What Changed in January 2025?
Before 2025, crypto exchanges in Indonesia operated under rules set by BAPPEBTI. The licensing process was messy, inconsistent, and lacked real oversight. Now, everything falls under the Digital Financial Assets (DFA) framework POJK 27/2024, which redefines crypto trading as a regulated financial service, not just a tech platform. The term "exchange" is no longer used for trading platforms. Instead, they’re called Digital Financial Asset Trading Providers. The real "exchange" now is the DFA Exchange a new centralized authority created by OJK to approve which crypto assets can be traded. This isn’t just a name change-it’s a total power shift.How Much Money Do You Need to Start?
Money talks in Indonesia’s new crypto world. The minimum paid-up capital is 100 billion rupiah-about $6 million USD. You also need at least 50 billion rupiah ($3 million USD) in equity. These numbers haven’t changed from the old BAPPEBTI rules, but now they’re enforced with teeth. No more loopholes. No more shell companies. OJK checks bank statements, audits financial records, and verifies sources of funds. If you can’t prove you have this cash sitting in an Indonesian bank account, your application gets rejected before it’s even reviewed.The 5-Step Licensing Process
Getting licensed isn’t a form you fill out online. It’s a multi-month ordeal. Here’s what it actually looks like:- Register your company as a PT PMA (foreign-invested limited liability company) through the Ministry of Investment’s portal. You need local directors, a registered office in Jakarta, and a clear corporate structure.
- Gather every document-articles of incorporation, shareholder agreements, KYC/AML policies, IT security blueprints, organizational charts, and proof of capital. All documents must be translated into Indonesian by a certified translator and notarized.
- Submit your application to OJK’s Digital Asset Division. This includes digital copies and hard copies with wet signatures. Missing one signature? Your file gets returned.
- Undergo a regulatory inspection. OJK sends a team to audit your offices, test your security systems, interview your compliance officers, and review your transaction monitoring tools. They’ll check if your KYC system can catch fake IDs. They’ll see if your AML alerts trigger properly.
- Wait for approval. This takes 4 to 8 months. There’s no rush. OJK doesn’t care if you’re losing money while you wait. They’re verifying every name, every transaction path, every server location.
Companies licensed under BAPPEBTI before January 2025 were given a grace period until July 2025 to reapply under the new rules. If you didn’t reapply by then, your license is void. No exceptions.
What Crypto Assets Can You Trade?
The DFA Exchange the new gatekeeper for which coins and tokens are allowed on Indonesian platforms released its first official list in April 2025. It includes 1,444 digital assets-up from BAPPEBTI’s final list of 851. That’s a 70% jump. But don’t get excited. Just because an asset is on the list doesn’t mean it’s safe. The DFA Exchange reviews this list every quarter. OJK can remove any asset at any time, even if it’s been trading for months. Bitcoin and Ethereum are safe. A new meme coin with no team, no whitepaper, and no liquidity? Gone in 48 hours.Trading platforms can suggest new assets for listing, but the final call is OJK’s. No lobbying. No payments. No backdoor deals. If OJK suspects an asset is a scam, pump-and-dump, or tied to sanctions, it’s immediately delisted. And if your platform keeps trading it? Your license gets revoked.
Compliance Isn’t Optional-It’s Constant
You can’t just set up KYC and forget it. The Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know-Your-Customer (KYC) rules under SEOJK No. 20 of 2024 require real-time, ongoing monitoring. Every transaction, every withdrawal, every login from a new device-all of it gets logged and analyzed. Suspicious activity? You must report it to PPATK Indonesia’s Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center within 24 hours. Failure to report? Fines up to 50 billion rupiah. Repeat offenses? Criminal charges.Your tech stack must include:
- Multi-factor authentication with biometric verification
- Real-time transaction monitoring with AI-driven anomaly detection
- Encrypted cold storage with multi-signature wallets
- Regular penetration testing by third-party auditors
- Customer identification that links to Indonesia’s national ID system (NIK)
OJK doesn’t just review your documents-they run live tests. They’ll create fake accounts with stolen IDs and see if your system catches them. They’ll simulate a money laundering flow and watch how fast your alerts trigger. If your system fails, you’re not getting licensed.
Taxes Just Got Simpler
On August 1, 2025, Indonesia changed how it taxes crypto. No more VAT. No more complex capital gains calculations. Now, it’s a flat 0.21% final income tax on every crypto trade. That’s it. The tax is automatically withheld by the exchange and paid to the government. You don’t file a separate return. Users don’t need to track their cost basis. It’s clean. It’s simple. And it’s mandatory for every licensed platform.This move wasn’t just about tax collection-it was about legitimacy. By integrating crypto into the formal financial system, OJK and the Ministry of Finance signaled that digital assets are here to stay. But they’re not a tax loophole. They’re a regulated asset class.
Who’s Already Licensed?
As of March 2025, OJK had issued only one DFA Exchange license. But over 20 platforms are still operating under their old BAPPEBTI licenses-until their grace period ends. The biggest names include Indodax, Tokocrypto, Pintu, and Reku. These companies spent millions upgrading their systems, hiring compliance teams, and restructuring their ownership to meet the new rules.Smaller exchanges? Many folded. Some merged. Others tried to move offshore. But if you want to serve Indonesian users, you have to play by Indonesia’s rules. There’s no workaround.
What Happens If You Don’t Comply?
The penalties are brutal:- License revocation within 72 hours
- Asset delisting from the DFA Exchange
- Fines up to 50 billion rupiah ($3 million USD)
- Freezing of bank accounts and digital wallets
- Criminal prosecution for executives
There’s no warning. No second chance. OJK doesn’t negotiate. If you’re caught operating without a license, your servers get shut down. Your team gets blacklisted. Your name goes on a public enforcement list. Investors won’t touch you. Banks won’t work with you. You’re done.
The Future: Sandbox, Synergy, and Stability
OJK isn’t just cracking down-it’s building a future. Through its regulatory sandbox a controlled environment where startups test new crypto products under supervision, OJK lets fintechs experiment with DeFi, tokenized assets, and CBDC integrations-all while staying compliant. This isn’t just about control. It’s about innovation that’s safe.Bank Indonesia (BI) and PPATK work closely with OJK. That means crypto regulation isn’t siloed-it’s part of a national financial ecosystem. If a crypto platform shows signs of systemic risk, BI can step in. If money laundering is detected, PPATK can freeze assets. This collaboration makes Indonesia’s system one of the most tightly integrated in Southeast Asia.
Expect more changes. More asset reviews. More tech requirements. But also more clarity. More trust. More institutional investors entering the market. Indonesia isn’t trying to ban crypto. It’s trying to own it.
What Should You Do Now?
If you’re a startup: Forget scaling fast. Focus on compliance first. Hire a local legal team. Set up your PT PMA. Secure your capital. Build your KYC system. Don’t launch until you’re ready to pass an OJK audit.If you’re an investor: Only use platforms that display their OJK license number. Check the OJK website for the official list of licensed DFA Trading Providers. If a platform says "we’re working on our license," walk away.
If you’re a trader: Your money is safer now. Your data is better protected. Your taxes are simpler. But you’re also playing in a tighter, more controlled market. Don’t expect wild volatility from unregulated tokens. The assets you can trade are vetted. The risks are lower. The returns? They’ll be steadier.
Indonesia’s crypto market isn’t for the impatient. It’s for the serious. The well-funded. The compliant. If you’re ready to play by the rules, this is the most promising crypto market in Southeast Asia. If you’re not? You won’t be here long.
Do I need to be an Indonesian citizen to run a crypto exchange here?
No, you don’t need to be a citizen, but you must register as a PT PMA-a foreign-invested company. You need at least one local director and a registered office in Indonesia. Foreign ownership is allowed, but control must be exercised through local leadership.
Can I use offshore servers for my crypto platform?
No. All data, servers, and customer information must be hosted within Indonesia. OJK requires full data sovereignty. Even cloud providers like AWS or Google Cloud must use Indonesian data centers. Offshore backups are allowed only if they’re encrypted and inaccessible to foreign authorities without OJK approval.
How often does OJK review licensed platforms?
Licensed platforms are subject to continuous real-time monitoring. In addition, OJK conducts mandatory on-site inspections at least once every 12 months. They can also trigger unscheduled audits if suspicious activity is detected or if a user complaint is filed.
Are stablecoins allowed in Indonesia?
Yes, but only if they’re listed on the DFA Exchange and meet strict reserve transparency rules. Backing must be audited quarterly by a licensed Indonesian firm. Stablecoins tied to foreign currencies (like USDT or USDC) are permitted, but those with unverified reserves or opaque issuers are immediately delisted.
Can I list NFTs on my platform?
Not yet. NFTs are not currently classified as Digital Financial Assets under POJK 27/2024. OJK is evaluating them, but until they’re formally added to the DFA framework, trading NFTs on licensed platforms is prohibited. Any platform offering NFT trading risks immediate license suspension.
What happens if my platform gets hacked?
You must report the breach to OJK and PPATK within 2 hours. You’re required to compensate users for losses if the hack resulted from negligence in security protocols. If your security measures were found to be below OJK standards, your license will be revoked. Insurance is not mandatory but strongly recommended.
Is staking allowed under the new rules?
Yes, but only if the staking product is pre-approved by OJK and clearly disclosed as a financial service, not a simple wallet feature. Users must be informed of risks, lock-up periods, and potential penalties. Staking rewards are subject to the 0.21% income tax.
Can I use AI for KYC verification?
Yes, but only if the AI system is audited by OJK-approved third parties and can explain its decisions in Indonesian. Black-box AI that can’t justify why someone was flagged is not allowed. You must keep logs of every verification decision for at least five years.
7 Comments
So now you need 6 million just to start? That's not regulation, that's a gatekeeping scheme. They're not protecting users, they're protecting big players. Small devs are dead here.
I've seen this movie before. Every country thinks they can 'own' crypto until they realize it's decentralized by design. Good luck enforcing server localization when the whole point is to bypass borders.
The DFA Exchange is just a new name for the same old gatekeeper. They're not building a future, they're building a museum. Crypto thrives on chaos, not compliance forms.
The structural clarity of Indonesia’s regulatory transition is commendable. The consolidation of oversight under OJK, coupled with enforceable capital requirements and data sovereignty mandates, establishes a robust foundation for institutional adoption. This is not overreach-it is responsible governance.
Honestly, this is the kind of clarity we need. I’ve seen too many people lose money on shady exchanges. If this means your money is safer and taxes are automatic? I’m all for it. No more guessing games.
I’m not against regulation. But if your system can’t catch fake IDs during a live test, maybe the problem isn’t the user-it’s the tech. And if you’re forcing all servers into Indonesia, what happens when the power grid goes down?
they just made it so hard to start that only the rich can play... and honestly? maybe thats the point. crypto was never meant to be a free-for-all. it was supposed to be a new system. but now its just wall street with a blockchain sticker.