Robinhood to Enter Indonesian Market with Acquisition of Local Crypto Firms Amid Regulatory Changes
Robinhood Markets Inc. is set to enter Indonesia's fast-growing retail trading market through the acquisition of PT Buana Capital Sekuritas, a brokerage, and PT Pedagang Aset Kripto, a licensed crypto trading platform. These deals are expected to close in the first half of 2026, though no further integration plans have been disclosed by Robinhood.
Indonesia's digital economy is rapidly expanding, with projections from Google e-Conomy SEA 2025 estimating it will reach about $99 billion in 2025. Digital payments alone are expected to surge to $538 billion in 2025, up from $340 billion in 2023. Despite this growth, a sizable portion of the adult population remains unbanked, with financial account ownership rising to approximately 60% by 2024 according to the World Bank Global Findex 2025, indicating significant fintech adoption potential.
Regulatory evolution is accompanying this surge in local crypto adoption. Starting July 2025, new rules will tax crypto transactions (offshore transactions at 1%, domestic at 0.21%), remove VAT on crypto sales, and reclassify digital assets as financial instruments under the supervision of Indonesia's Financial Services Authority (OJK).
A Robinhood spokesperson confirmed there are no immediate plans for further integration following the acquisitions. Patrick Chan, head of Asia at Robinhood, described Indonesia as an exciting market to democratize finance, emphasizing the company's interest in the region's growth and potential.
