Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Digital has blocked access to the crypto-native prediction market platform Polymarket as authorities intensify a broader crackdown on online betting in the country, where gambling is illegal under national law.
Director General of Digital Space Supervision Alexander Sabar said in a statement on Friday that Polymarket's activities involve "betting and speculation on uncertain outcomes," placing the platform in violation of Indonesian law. The ministry said it has also begun tracing all social media accounts affiliated with Polymarket to ensure comprehensive access restrictions.
According to the statement, the ministry is also planning to block access to similar services suspected of facilitating prediction market practices. The move aims to protect the public, particularly younger digital users, from financial losses and regulatory violations, the ministry said.
Polymarket gained traction in Indonesia last week after users opened contracts predicting when President Prabowo Subianto would be “out as president,” despite his current term running through 2029, Reuters reported on Monday. The market launched on May 21, one day after Prabowo unveiled plans to centralize control of key commodity exports, including coal and palm oil, sectors closely watched by global investors.
