Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs has blocked access to Polymarket, saying the crypto-based prediction market amounts to online gambling under local law.
The ministry said it had cut off access to the platform and was searching affiliated social media accounts for possible restrictions on other digital channels.
Alexander Sabar, general director of digital space supervision, claimed that platforms that allow users to bet money on uncertain outcomes remain gambling products, even when they use blockchain technology or crypto assets.
Polymarket allows users to trade contracts tied to real-world events, including elections, sports, cryptocurrency prices, and political outcomes. The platform has become one of the largest crypto prediction markets, but regulators in several jurisdictions have treated parts of the business as a game rather than a financial markets activity.
The Indonesian statement does not name Kalshi, a U.S.-regulated prediction market operator, or other platforms, but says authorities will restrict similar services that facilitate online gambling.
The order could extend to other prediction market platforms if Indonesian regulators determine that 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 the platforms as banned online gambling, with Kalshi also facing scrutiny. Polymarket is separately seeking approval in Japan by 2030, where strict gaming rules limit most forms of betting outside of state-sanctioned activities.
The Indonesian ministry said Singapore, Brazil and India had blocked Polymarket, while Taiwan, Thailand, China and Japan had imposed restrictions under local law. The prediction market is also blocked in Ukraine, where there is no legal way to return.
The regulator urged Indonesians not to access or participate in digital betting activities, including markets that use crypto assets, citing potential financial losses and violations of Indonesian law. The ministry said it will continue to coordinate with law enforcement and other stakeholders to monitor similar platforms.
