Robinhood Markets moved into Indonesia this week by signing deals to buy two local firms, a step that gives it instant access to a big pool of investors.

The plan covers both a licensed brokerage and a regulated crypto trader, and the company says it will use those platforms to begin offering its services to Indonesian users. According to reports, the transactions are set to close in the first half of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals.

Robinhood Targets Large Local Investor Base

Based on reports, Robinhood will acquire PT Buana Capital Sekuritas and PT Pedagang Aset Kripto, two Indonesian companies that already operate under local licenses.

This gives Robinhood the chance to start operating without waiting out a long licensing process, although final approval from Indonesia’s financial watchdog is still required. The firm did not disclose the price it will pay.

We’re expanding globally. Robinhood has entered into agreements to acquire Buana Capital, an Indonesian brokerage, and PT Pedagang Aset Kripto, a licensed Indonesian digital financial asset trader–marking our entry into one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing markets.

More…

— Robinhood (@RobinhoodApp) December 8, 2025

Market Size And Recent Activity

Indonesia is home to a deep and growing retail market. Reports place close to 20 million people participating in capital markets, while about 17 million are active crypto traders — numbers that underline why global platforms are looking closely at the country.

Transaction values in 2024 reached roughly 650 trillion rupiah, which is nearly $40 billion, showing how much activity already flows through local platforms.

How Robinhood Plans To Use The Acquisitions

According to the company’s announcement, the deals are meant to let Robinhood offer its own brokerage and crypto products over time, potentially including access to US equities and global cryptocurrencies for Indonesian users.

Pieter Tanuri, who is the majority owner of the acquired businesses, is expected to serve as a strategic adviser after the closing, reports say. This local guidance could help with day-to-day operations and regulatory interactions.

Regulatory And Competitive Hurdles

The greenlighting by Otoritas Jasa Keuangan or OJK and other Indonesian regulators remains a continuing condition.

Against this, the wider policy backdrop has not stayed constant: tax rules and oversight for crypto tightened up in 2025; regulators have moved parts of crypto oversight under different agencies, making compliance more complex for entrants.

Local rivals are already well established, meaning Robinhood will face a crowded field even if it is granted regulatory clearance.

For Indonesian traders, the move could bring more choices and access to new products, including cross-border trading options that, until now, are limited on many local applications.

It’s part of a broader expansion push at Robinhood after a strong year that saw big gains in its stock price.

The company still has the practical work of integrating systems, meeting local rules, and convincing users to switch platforms.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

Robinhood Markets has announced two key acquisitions, marking its official entry into the Indonesian market. The American financial services firm has entered into agreements to acquire Indonesian brokerage Buana Capital and OKJ-licensed crypto trader PT Pedagang Aset Kripto.

Announced Monday, the move expands Robinhood’s presence in one of the leading crypto markets in the Southeast Asian region.

“Indonesia represents a fast-growing market for trading, making it an exciting place to further Robinhood’s mission to democratize finance for all,” said Patrick Chan, Head of Asia at Robinhood.

Besides, Pieter Tanuri, the majority owner at both Buana Capital and PT Pedagang Aset Kripto, will serve as the strategic advisor to Robinhood.

However, the company did not disclose the deal price, which is expected to close in H1 2026, Reuters reported.

Robinhood is coming to Indonesia. We're excited to work with the Buana Capital and PT Pedagang Aset Kripto teams to democratize finance for this fast-growing market.

Indonesia already has more than 19 million capital market investors and 17 million crypto investors, and we look…

— Steve Quirk (@SteveQuirk_) December 8, 2025

Robinhood’s Entry Underscores Indonesia’s Growing Retail Investors

Indonesia is home to about 17 million crypto traders and has more than 19 million capital market investors, per a recent report.

Besides, Chainalysis ranks Indonesia as a top global crypto market, placing it 7th in the world and 1st in Southeast Asia for crypto adoption in its 2025 index.

Further, the World Bank’s report on Global Findex 2025 noted that financial account ownership in Indonesia has increased from about 20% of adults in 2011 to roughly 60% by 2024.

With the expansion, Robinhood aims to bring its crypto trading services to Indonesia.

“We look forward to bringing Indonesians the same innovative services that have earned the trust of Robinhood customers globally,” Patrick Chan added.

The nation recently tightened its grip on crypto trading with a tax overhaul, hitting offshore platforms with a fivefold rate increase.

Additionally, crypto mining operations saw VAT rates double from 1.1% to 2.2%, along with an increase in taxes on domestic crypto sales and overseas exchange transactions separately.

The Indonesian government is also exploring Bitcoin as a reserve asset to benefit the country’s long-term financial stability.

The post Robinhood Sets Indonesia Footprint Through Crypto Trader, Brokerage Firms Acquisition appeared first on Cryptonews.

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