Indonesia’s Ministry of Communications has blocked access to the crypto-based prediction market platform, classifying it as illegal gambling.
The Ministry of Communications and Digital Affairs of Indonesia has blocked access to Polymarket, the leading crypto-based prediction market, declaring that the platform constitutes online gambling under local law. Authorities have also begun tracking affiliated social media accounts to extend potential restrictions to other digital channels.
Alexander Sabar, Director General of Digital Space Supervision, stated that platforms allowing users to bet money on uncertain events remain gambling products, regardless of whether they use blockchain technology or crypto assets. The authorities’ position is clear: the underlying technology does not change the nature of the product.
Polymarket allows users to trade contracts tied to real-world events, including elections, sports, and political developments. Despite growing into one of the largest prediction markets globally, several jurisdictions have classified its activity as gambling rather than financial market activity.
The Indonesian measure fits into a broader crackdown across Asia. The ministry explicitly cited the cases of Singapore, Brazil, and India as countries that have already blocked Polymarket, while Taiwan, Thailand, China, and Japan have imposed restrictions under their respective local laws. Ukraine is also among the countries where the platform is blocked, with no legal pathway for re-entry. India recently banned Polymarket by classifying such platforms as prohibited paid online gambling, with Kalshi — a prediction market operator regulated in the United States — potentially subject to further scrutiny. Polymarket is separately seeking regulatory approval in Japan by 2030, where strict gambling laws limit most forms of betting outside state-sanctioned activities.
