Indonesia’s Ministry of Communications and Digital Affairs has blocked access to Polymarket, saying the crypto-based prediction market is equivalent to online gambling under local law.
The ministry said it had cut access to the platform and tracked associated social media accounts for possible restrictions across other digital channels.
Alexander Sabar, Director General of Digital Space Supervision, argued that platforms that allow users to bet money on uncertain outcomes remain gaming products even when they use blockchain technology or cryptoassets.
Polymarket lets users trade contracts tied to real-world events, including elections, sports, crypto prices, and political outcomes. The platform has grown into one of the largest crypto prediction markets, but regulators in several jurisdictions have treated parts of the business as gambling rather than financial market activity.
Indonesia’s statement did not name Kalshi, a US-regulated prediction market operator, or other platforms, but said authorities would restrict similar services that facilitate online gambling.
The order may be extended to other prediction market platforms if Indonesian regulators decide they allow users to bet money on uncertain real-world events.
Indonesia’s move follows a broader crackdown on prediction markets in Asia. India recently blocked Polymarket after authorities classified such platforms as banned online gambling, with Kalshi also facing a potential investigation. Polymarket is seeking separate approval in Japan by 2030, where strict gaming rules restrict most forms of betting outside of state-sanctioned activities.
The Indonesian ministry said Singapore, Brazil and India have blocked Polymarket, while Taiwan, Thailand, China and Japan have imposed restrictions under local laws. The prediction market is also blocked in Ukraine, where there is no legal way back.
The regulator urged Indonesians not to access or participate in digital betting activities, including markets that use cryptoassets, citing potential financial losses and violations of Indonesian law. The ministry said it would continue to coordinate with law enforcement and other stakeholders to monitor similar platforms.
