Hundreds of Trillions in Online Gambling Transactions Harm Society and the National Economy
Jakarta – The Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) revealed that illegal transactions using cryptocurrencies reached IDR 1.3 trillion throughout 2024. This phenomenon is increasingly worrying because online gambling funds that were diverted abroad through crypto platforms such as Binance and Cryptocurrency have reached more than IDR 28 trillion.
“Based on our analysis, gambling money that was diverted abroad resulted in a capital outflow carried out through Binance and Cryptocurrency of more than IDR 28 trillion by the end of 2024,” said PPATK Head Ivan Yustiananda when confirmed, Friday (7/2/2025).
Ivan added that the amount was very large and could harm society and have a negative impact on the national economy. “Almost reaching IDR 30 trillion. If left unchecked, it has the potential to hamper President Prabowo’s economic program,” he said.
He also highlighted that crypto is one of the main modes used by criminals, especially online gambling managers, to divert assets abroad. Therefore, Ivan emphasized the need for firm legal action to prevent further impacts on the economy.
Meanwhile, the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) also revealed allegations of the use of crypto assets in illegal transactions over the past year. The Attorney General for Special Crimes at the AGO, Asep Nana Mulyana, stated that based on international reports, Indonesia currently ranks third in the global crypto adoption index in 2024.
“The flow of illegal funds through the crypto ecosystem has caused state losses of up to IDR 1.3 trillion in a year by utilizing digital devices,” said Asep in a written statement, Monday (3/2/2025).
Based on data held by the AGO, the total crypto transactions in Indonesia reached USD 157.1 billion. Asep also highlighted the increasingly sophisticated crypto-based fraud methods carried out by criminals.
“The perpetrators are increasingly adept at carrying out crypto-based investment fraud that is detrimental to the state by using digital devices such as mixers and tumblers to eliminate traces of transactions, as well as cross-chain bridging to move assets between blockchains without being detected,” he explained.
Asep emphasized that with the alleged use of crypto in disguising the proceeds of crime, the AGO investigators must improve their investigative capabilities. “The existing indications must be followed up immediately so that state losses do not increase,” he concluded.
