Indonesia Blockchain Hub Launches with Support from Government Agencies

The Indonesia Blockchain Hub has been launched to serve as a center for developing and promoting the technology in the country, helping unify the efforts of various local blockchain communities, drive innovation, and offer education about the emerging technology.

The launch ceremony, which took place last Thursday, was supported by the Indonesian Blockchain Association (ABI) and HARA, a blockchain project for social impact. The launch was also endorsed by government entities, including the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and government agency BEKRAF.

HARA CEO Regi Wahyu commented on the event:

“This is a historical moment for Indonesia. This shows that Indonesia is ready for blockchain technology, and Indonesia Blockchain Hub will have a huge effect on how the blockchain ecosystem will grow in Indonesia.”

The launch event featured several panel discussions on blockchain topics, with speakers from six countries making presentations at the event. The attendees noted that the new hub had tremendous potential to act as an education center, helping the nation adopt the technology at a faster pace

Yos Ginting, supervisory board member at the ABI, said:

“We believe that the set-up of a place like Indonesia Blockchain Hub will accelerate the exchange of information. It can be used to [help] make Indonesia a country that will reap the benefits [of blockchain technology] as early as possible.”

He added that his agency would contribute to the advancement of the blockchain ecosystem in the country and would become the entity to implement the technology at the government level.

From left to right: Yos Ginting, Supervisory Board Indonesia Blockchain Association, Regi Wahyu, Founder & CEO HARA, Dr. Chatib Basri Former Minister of Finance Indonesia, and Jonathan Lee CCO Yello Digital Mobile

In June 2018, Indonesia’s Commodity Futures Trading Supervisory Agency (Bappebti) said it had been working on a decree to give digital coins the status of commodities. In this way, cryptocurrencies would trade freely and have legal status. The move represents a complete reversal of Indonesia’s earlier plans to restrict Bitcoin trading.