Daftarsbmptn.com – Indonesia’s digital economic transformation is moving rapidly. According to the e-Conomy SEA 2025 report, Indonesia’s digital economy is projected to exceed USD 130 billion, making it the largest in Southeast Asia.
The rapid flow of global digitalization has Indonesia embarking on a new chapter in its economic journey. Digital innovation is now a key driver in strengthening the national digital economy and finance (DEF) transformation.
This change is not simply about advanced technology or cutting-edge applications, but rather about how these innovations can reach all levels of society, from large cities to remote villages.
Indonesia’s digital economic transformation is moving rapidly. According to the e-Conomy SEA 2025 report, Indonesia’s digital economy is projected to exceed USD 130 billion, making it the largest in Southeast Asia. This growth is driven by the increasing adoption of digital services such as e-commerce, cashless payments, and digital financial platforms that provide wider access to formal financial services.
However, effective innovation is not solely measured by technological sophistication. True innovation is relevant, affordable, and easy to implement. Across various regions, numerous real-life examples have emerged: MSMEs turning to digital platforms to market their products; farmers using data-driven agricultural applications to monitor weather and market prices; and even rural communities who can now access financial services through digital wallets and bank agents without having to travel to the city.
The government continues to strengthen the digital economy ecosystem through policies that encourage collaboration between the public sector, the private sector, and the innovation community. Programs such as the National 1000 Digital Startup Movement, the Digital Talent Scholarship, and One Data Indonesia are crucial foundations for accelerating inclusive and sustainable technology adoption.
However, challenges remain. The digital divide, unequal technological literacy, and data security issues are challenges that must be addressed immediately. Without the involvement of all parties, digital transformation risks benefiting only a select few.
One thing is certain, however: the direction of change is clear. Indonesia is building the foundation for a resilient, inclusive, and globally competitive digital economy. Behind the scenes of this transformation, digital innovation is the lifeblood that ignites opportunities, drives the economy, and paves the way to a smarter and more prosperous future for all Indonesians.
Digital Transformation
As the world becomes increasingly connected by technology, the term digital transformation is often associated with cutting-edge technologies artificial intelligence, big data, or automation. However, digital transformation is not simply about a series of new technological innovations, but about people and how technology opens up more equitable opportunities for all.
In Indonesia, this spirit is beginning to be felt in various sectors. From classrooms to traditional markets, from public services to the business world, digitalization is now here not to replace humans, but to empower them.
A teacher in a remote part of Papua can now access the same online learning materials as his colleagues in Jakarta. Farmers in Lombok can find out the national price of unhusked rice through an application on their mobile phones. MSMEs in Kendal can sell their products internationally through digital platforms. All of this is proof that appropriate technology can be a bridge to equality, not just a symbol of progress.
The government and the private sector are also beginning to understand digital transformation more humanely. The development of digital infrastructure is accompanied by increased literacy and human resource empowerment. Digital talent training programs, cybersecurity education, and MSME mentoring are concrete efforts to ensure that no one is left behind in this new era.
However, the journey towards inclusive digital transformation is not always easy. There are still gaps in internet access, limited devices, and low digital literacy in some regions. These challenges serve as a reminder that technological progress must be accompanied by empathy and a commitment to vulnerable groups because the essence of digitalization is to open opportunities, not create new inequalities.
Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa recently acknowledged a significant shift in the investment patterns of the younger generation. Initially, he was concerned about seeing young people investing in digital assets like cryptocurrencies or the capital market. However, after seeing the results, Purbaya is convinced that the direction of investment has indeed shifted to the digital realm. “When I see young people investing in crypto or the capital market through that, I’m a bit afraid. Why? It didn’t exist back then. But then I see, oh, it turns out it can be successful. So maybe that’s the direction the future will take,” he said at the CXO Media Forum some time ago. This statement comes amid the growing popularity of digital investment in Indonesia.
According to data from the Financial Services Authority (OJK), in August 2025, the number of capital market investors reached 12.5 million, a 20 percent increase from the previous year, with the majority under 35 years old. Meanwhile, crypto users in Indonesia reached 18 million, according to a report by the Indonesian Blockchain Association (Asosiasi Blockchain Indonesia), with daily transactions reaching Rp 1 trillion.
Finance Minister Purbaya emphasized the importance of young people learning about digital investment from an early age, as the future of finance is likely to shift in that direction.
However, Purbaya also reminded that investing isn’t just about profits, but also about risks, the tools used, and the challenges faced. “With a thorough understanding, the chances of success in investing will be much greater,” Purbaya said.
He advised investors not to rush, but to study the instruments thoroughly. “So, if you want to invest in any instrument, learn what the instrument is. Don’t follow others, don’t be driven by FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). Learn the instrument, and it will definitely work,” Purbaya said.
True digital transformation is about empowering people, not systems that replace humans. It’s about how technology becomes a tool to create broader, fairer, and more humane opportunities for every citizen.
When every individual, regardless of background or location, has an equal opportunity to grow and develop in the digital age, that’s where the true meaning of digital transformation is truly realized.
Strengthening Digital Talent and Digital Infrastructure
Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs (Menkomdigi) Meutya Hafid emphasized that true digital transformation is not just about new technology, but about people and fairer opportunities for all.
With regard to the direction of national digital policy, she highlighted three main strategies currently being implemented by the government: building an inclusive digital ecosystem, accelerating innovation and efficiency, and developing superior digital talent. “Digital transformation is not just about technology, but about people, about fairer opportunities for everyone, from cities to remote areas,” said Meutya in her remarks at the Indonesian Digital Finance and Economy Forum (FEKDI) x Indonesia Fintech Summit and Expo (IFSE) 2025 at the Jakarta Convention Center, Central Jakarta, Thursday (10/30/2025).
Meutya Hafid emphasized that digital development is not only about physical infrastructure, such as base stations and satellites, but also about developing human talent. “People are also an important part of the digital infrastructure that must be prepared,” she said.
Therefore, Minister Meutya explained that the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs has implemented the Digital Talent Scholarship and AI Talent Factory programs to develop digital talent.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs also provides a space for these digital talents to connect with industry through the Garuda Spark Innovation Hub and the HUB.ID Connection Hub.
Meanwhile, on the connectivity infrastructure side, the Republic of Indonesia Satellite (SATRIA) I program has provided internet access at 27,865 public service points, and the launch of the Nusantara V Satellite has increased national broadband capacity to 370 Gbps, the highest in ASEAN. “In Eastern Indonesia, for example in Papua, there are already 1,631 public service points. So, for those who frequently work in Papua, the connection is much better than before. Of course, we are also continuing to develop in other 3T (frontier and remote) regions,” explained Meutya Hafid.
With the availability of connectivity and strategic collaboration between the government and the private sector, Indonesia is now the largest digital market in ASEAN with 229.4 million internet users, or 80.6 percent of the population. This number will continue to increase along with ongoing connectivity infrastructure development.
Expanded connectivity has also led to rapid growth in the digital economy. “Small food carts are now using QRIS. So we’re proud and happy, because the digital ecosystem has a significant impact on the community’s economy,” he said.
Meutya Hafid stated that synergy and innovation are two key keywords for accelerating digital economic and financial transformation. “Progress can only be achieved if the government, regulators, industry, academics, and innovators work together,” she emphasized.
The Prabowo administration itself is promoting the digital power of the nation’s youth as creators of innovation. “We have proven that we are ready to become a nation with digital power, not only as users, but also as creators of technological innovation,” stated Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment, Muhaimin Iskandar, in his Leaders’ Insight.
He emphasized the importance of a human-centered digital economy. “Digital transformation must address literacy, expand access, and build human capacity. The goal is clear: to empower our people and make them more competitive compared to other countries,” concluded Coordinating Minister Muhaimin Iskandar.
Echoing this sentiment, Minister of Home Affairs, Tito Karnavian, highlighted two key steps in expanding digitalization in the regions. First, improving local government literacy so they can implement digital systems effectively. Second, ensuring uniformity in the direction and standards for implementing digitalization nationally so that its implementation in the regions is well-orchestrated.
Economic Growth Catalyst
Digital transformation in the regions serves as a driver of economic growth, increasing productivity, economic efficiency, competitiveness, and financial economic inclusiveness.
In this regard, digitalization serves as a bridge to realizing the vision of encouraging sustainable growth and maintaining economic resilience. This aligns with the Government’s Asta Cita (Government’s Asta Cita), where President Prabowo Subianto positions digital transformation as a driver of national economic development.
Indonesia’s digital financial economy is growing rapidly and will be the backbone of future economic growth. In line with Asta Cita, digitalization is positioned as a national priority to build an efficient and inclusive economy, with empowering technology towards Indonesia Emas 2045.
The use of digital payment systems, one of which is QRIS, has reached nearly 60 million users, offering convenience, efficiency, and speed. Approximately 93 percent of QRIS users are MSMEs, reflecting that financial digitalization has grown organically within the community.
Bank Indonesia Governor Perry Warjiyo stated that Indonesia’s digital economic and financial growth is among the fastest in the world and will continue to accelerate. “Indonesia is currently the fastest-growing digital economy,” Perry stated.
In the third quarter of 2025, digital payment transaction volume reached 12.99 billion transactions, representing a 38.08 percent year-on-year growth, in line with the expansion of digital payment acceptance and channels. This achievement reflects the increasingly strong foundation of the national payment system’s digitalization as a key driver of Indonesia’s digital economic growth.
Furthermore, Mahendra Siregar, Chairman of the Financial Services Authority (OJK) Board of Commissioners, emphasized that digital transformation is not merely the application of technology, but rather an effort to deliver innovations that expand inclusive financial access, improve service efficiency and security, and strengthen public trust in the financial system. “Digital transformation must be built on a strong foundation, ensuring trust in the system, governance, and consumer protection. Therefore, innovation, risk mitigation, and trustworthy governance must go hand in hand,” added Mahendra.
Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, stated that along with significant opportunities, new challenges also arise: ensuring payment system security, improving public digital literacy, and building trust so that digital financial innovation can grow sustainably and responsibly. “Therefore, the government has published the White Paper on the National Strategy for Developing Indonesia’s Digital Economy 2030 and the National Artificial Intelligence Roadmap. The government has also opened access to broad technology investment for various sectors, including finance. Furthermore, all of this needs to be utilized by Indonesia’s younger generation,” said Airlangga.
Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, added the important role of infrastructure, both physical and digital, in fostering an inclusive digital financial economy ecosystem. “We are providing infrastructure to bridge the gap between those with and without access to digital space. Public literacy must improve so that we are not left behind by neighboring nations. No one and no region will be left behind,” said Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono.
Bank Indonesia Deputy Governor Filianingsih Hendarta stated that digitalization has become a new engine of economic growth, transforming the way people transact, produce, and even interact in the economic space.
“The implementation of the Indonesian Payment System Blueprint (BSPI) 2025 has yielded tangible results. National digital transactions have grown rapidly to IDR 59.4 trillion, or approximately three times Indonesia’s GDP. The spirit of synergy, collaboration, and innovation will enable digitalization to develop safely and sustainably, serving as a new force towards Indonesia Emas 2045,” said Deputy Filianingsih.
Synergy Expands Financial Inclusion
The Financial Services Authority (OJK) emphasized that digital financial transformation must promote inclusion and expand opportunities for all levels of society.
This was conveyed by Hasan Fawzi, Chief Executive of the Financial Sector Technology Innovation, Digital Financial Assets, and Crypto Assets (KE IAKD) Supervisory Agency (OJK), at the closing ceremony of the Indonesian Digital Financial Economy Festival (FEKDI) and the Indonesia Fintech Summit & Expo (IFSE) 2025 at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC), Saturday (November 1, 2025). “Digital financial transformation must be a means to expand access and opportunities, not create new gaps. OJK is committed to ensuring that every innovation is carried out responsibly, ethically, and sustainably,” said Hasan.
Hasan also added that OJK will continue to maintain a balance between encouraging innovation and mitigating potential risks, as well as strengthening consumer protection. “We at OJK will continue to be present and maintain a balance between innovation and the ability to mitigate potential risks, between continuing to encourage growth and providing uncompromising protection for consumers and customers,” he said.
Hasan also emphasized that the policy direction issued by the OJK aligns with the Government’s Asta Cita (Government Goals), particularly in realizing economic independence, increasing productivity, and achieving equitable development and reducing regional disparities, where digital transformation is an instrument of fair and sustainable national development.
Meanwhile, Secretary General of the Special Economic Zone Council, Rizal Edwin Manansang, expressed his appreciation for the successful implementation of FEKDI x IFSE 2025 as a symbol of national synergy in accelerating digital transformation. “This year’s FEKDI and IFSE are not just festivals, but a reflection of the spirit of national collaboration and innovation to build an inclusive, efficient, and sustainable economic transformation,” said Edwin.
Furthermore, Edwin emphasized the importance of frugal innovation as an appropriate approach to encourage efficiency and affordability in the use of digital technology, so that the benefits of the digital economy can be felt by all levels of society. “Resource-efficient innovation, or frugal innovation, emphasizes efficiency, affordability, and scalability so that every technological breakthrough can reach all levels of society, including those who have never been exposed to formal financial services,” he added.
Towards a Fair and Sustainable Digital Economy
Over the three days (October 30–November 1, 2025), FEKDI x IFSE 2025 served as a platform for strategic collaboration between the Financial Services Authority (OJK), Bank Indonesia (BI), and the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, and involved digital finance industry players, startups, academics, and the public. The forum featured various discussion sessions, technology exhibitions, and innovation competitions such as the BI–OJK 2025 Hackathon and QRIS Jelajah 2025, encouraging Indonesia’s young generation to deliver real digital financial solutions to the public.
FEKDI x IFSE 2025 embodies collaboration between the government, regulators, industry, academics, and the public in building a resilient and globally competitive digital economy ecosystem. This forum also affirmed Indonesia’s support for the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) and its commitment to achieving a USD 2 trillion regional digital economy by 2030.
The Financial Services Authority (OJK) views cross-authority collaborations such as FEKDI x IFSE 2025 as strategic instruments to strengthen public trust in the digital financial system and ensure innovation develops based on good governance, ethics, and consumer protection.
The Financial Services Authority (OJK) reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening regulations, encouraging responsible innovation, and ensuring that the national digital economic transformation is inclusive, safe, and equitable.
Senior Deputy Governor of Bank Indonesia, Destry Damayanti, emphasized the importance of synergy, innovation, and acceleration as three key elements in accelerating Indonesia’s digital economic and financial transformation. “Without synergy, we will not be able to optimally achieve our digitalization goals. Without innovation, we will also not achieve our digitalization targets effectively. And the third is accelerating economic transformation,” Destry explained.
Destry Damayanti also highlighted that digitalization in the financial sector cannot be achieved in isolation and emphasized the importance of the power of we as a collaborative philosophy for innovation. “In the money market, although the mandate lies with Bank Indonesia, Bank Indonesia cannot work alone to improve our money market. Bank Indonesia, together with the OJK and the industry, is building joint infrastructure,” Destry said.
Strong collaboration between stakeholders will be the foundation for realizing a resilient and equitable digital economy. The government remains committed to expanding infrastructure, strengthening adaptive regulations, and creating a conducive innovation climate.
Equally important, however, is the importance of digital economic development, which upholds the values of inclusivity ensuring that every citizen has access, skills, and opportunities to thrive in the digital age.
True digital transformation is not just about technological advancement, but about empowering people. Through a spirit of collaboration and mutual cooperation across sectors, Indonesia is on the path to an inclusive, equitable, and sustainable digital economic future where no one is left behind.
Indonesia is undergoing a major transformation toward an inclusive digital economy. The rapid growth of the digital sector is inseparable from the collaboration of various parties government, private sector, communities, academics, and the public who are working together to build a digital ecosystem that is open to all.
The government plays a role as a policy architect, creating the foundation for equitable digital economic growth. Through various programs such as the National Digital Literacy Movement, MSMEs Go Digital, and the development of the Satria Satellite to expand internet access in remote areas, the state is ensuring that no one is left behind in the digital age.
Meanwhile, the private sector and startups are driving innovation. E-commerce and fintech platforms have opened financial access to millions of micro and small businesses previously unbanked. Collaboration between the government and technology companies has resulted in initiatives such as digital training, inclusive payment systems, and integrated logistics support for MSMEs.
Communities and educational institutions also play a crucial role. They act as bridges for literacy and empowerment at the grassroots level teaching basic digital skills, data security, and leveraging technology to increase productivity.
Although significant progress has been made, challenges remain. The digital divide remains significant between urban and rural areas, between tech-savvy young people and older generations still adapting. This is where an inclusivity mindset is crucial that every digital innovation must consider the access and capabilities of all levels of society.
Collaboration must also address gender and disability issues. Many initiatives are now beginning to involve women, people with disabilities, and indigenous communities in economic digitalization programs. This approach demonstrates that inclusivity is not only a moral value but also a development strategy that strengthens the nation’s competitiveness.
An inclusive digital economy is not a final destination, but rather a long journey toward equitable prosperity. On this journey, collaboration is the heart that fuels the spirit of mutual cooperation, both online and in real life.
As many stakeholders often say, “There is no inclusivity without collaboration.” Only by working together, sharing roles, and ensuring that every citizen has access and the ability to participate can Indonesia realize a digital economy that is not only growing, but also equitable, just, and sustainable.