Indonesia Explores National Bitcoin Reserve Strategy, Tapping into Mining & Education Potential
JAKARTA, August 5, 2025 — In a surprising pivot that could reshape Southeast Asia's approach to digital assets, Indonesia is officially exploring BTC as a national reserve asset, according to a recent statement by local advocacy group BTC Indonesia.
The group confirmed on X (formerly Twitter) that it was invited to present its proposal at the office of Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, outlining how the world’s leading cryptocurrency could fuel long-term economic resilience and innovation.
> “Yes, seriously. [Indonesia] is looking into how BTC could fuel long-term economic strength,” the group stated.
Why This Matters for Indonesia with over 280 million people and a $1.4 trillion GDP, Indonesia is the 16th-largest economy globally. While the country currently bans crypto as a payment method, it allows crypto trading — a stance that has evolved alongside growing institutional curiosity.
Bitcoin Indonesia’s pitch focused on several key areas:
Mining – Leveraging Indonesia’s abundant geothermal and hydroelectric energy for domestic Bitcoin mining operations. Education – Promoting nationwide crypto literacy to foster grassroots adoption. Reserve Strategy – Using Bitcoin to diversify national reserves, inspired by long-term projections like Michael Saylor’s $13M base-case prediction for Bitcoin by 2045.
A representative from the VP's office reportedly responded positively, saying:
> “Indonesia must also continue to educate about BTC in the future.”
Policy Paradox: Bitcoin Reserve vs. Crypto Crackdown
The development comes despite recent tax hikes on crypto:
Local exchange tax rose from 0.1% → 0.21%
Foreign exchange tax surged from 0.2% → 1%
Mining VAT doubled from 1.1% → 2.2%
Indonesia also maintains a strict crypto payment ban, enforced since 2017. However, enforcement appears inconsistent — with anecdotal reports of real estate listings in Bali accepting Bitcoin.
