Indonesia has moved to block access to blockchain-based prediction market Polymarket amid a broader crackdown on online gambling platforms, following heightened attention around a market speculating on the country’s presidential term. The restriction adds Indonesia to a growing list of jurisdictions taking action against online prediction venues that regulators categorize as gambling.
Indonesia Blocks Access to Polymarket
The Ministry of Communication and Informatics (Kominfo) recently restricted access to Polymarket and similar services through local internet providers. The move follows a surge of online attention toward a market related to the Indonesian presidency, which drew scrutiny under the country’s strict anti-gambling framework.
Indonesia maintains an ongoing enforcement campaign against illegal online gambling, regularly ordering internet service providers to block offending websites and applications. The latest action underscores authorities’ stance that markets allowing users to wager on real-world outcomes fall under gambling prohibitions.
Legal and Regulatory Context
Online gambling is prohibited in Indonesia, and Kominfo has authority to block platforms deemed to facilitate gambling-related activity. While cryptocurrency trading is permitted as a regulated commodity under the supervision of the Commodity Futures Trading Regulatory Agency (Bappebti), prediction markets occupy a separate category and are typically treated as gambling rather than financial services.
The enforcement action aligns with Indonesia’s broader efforts to curb offshore betting and wagering platforms accessible to domestic users. Local access to targeted sites is generally disabled at the ISP level.
What Is Polymarket?
Polymarket is a blockchain-based prediction market that lets users trade shares tied to the outcome of real-world events, such as elections, economics, or sports. Prices on these markets reflect the crowd’s implied probability of an event occurring. The platform uses cryptocurrency for settlement and has become one of the most visible venues for event-driven trading.
Global Scrutiny of Prediction Markets
Prediction markets have faced increasing regulatory attention worldwide. In the United States, Polymarket previously settled charges with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and implemented restrictions on U.S. users. Other jurisdictions have also taken steps to limit or clarify access to platforms that regulators view as unlicensed gambling or derivatives markets.
Indonesia’s latest block reflects this trend, signaling that prediction markets remain in a regulatory gray area internationally, particularly where gambling and financial regulation overlap.