Robinhood Expands Into Indonesia With Major Acquisitions
- Robinhood’s deals open new avenues for Indonesia’s fast-growing trading market.
- Younger investors push demand as digital trading tools spread across the nation.
- Stronger regulations give Indonesia a firmer base for wider trading participation.
Robinhood plans to expand into Indonesia by acquiring Buana Capital Sekuritas and Pedagang Aset Kripto, seeking access to one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing retail trading markets. The company aims to use these acquisitions to enter a young and rapidly scaling investment landscape where millions of Indonesians actively trade equities and digital assets.
This approach also reflects a broader shift by U.S. trading platforms toward emerging regions shaped by clearer regulations, rising mobile adoption, and expanding retail participation.
Retail Investors Drive Rapid Market Growth
Indonesia has a large and expanding population of retail investors. Reports show that more than 19 million residents engage in capital-market activity, and up to 17 million trade cryptocurrency. These numbers track the steady rise of young, tech-focused users who rapidly adopt mobile trading tools.
Many investors are under age 30, aligning with Robinhood’s core demographic. This makes Indonesia a natural growth frontier for the firm’s existing product model. Youthful adoption also connects to broader trends in mobile payments, investment apps, and digital wallets.
Patrick Chan, Robinhood’s Head of Asia, said the market fits the company’s global mission. “Indonesia represents a fast-growing market for trading, making it an exciting place to further Robinhood’s mission to democratize finance for all,” he stated. He also said the firm plans to bring the same services trusted by its global customers.
Pieter Tanuri, the majority owner of Buana Capital and Pedagang Aset Kripto, will remain as a strategic advisor following the acquisitions.
Digital Finance Expands Across Indonesia
Indonesia’s digital economy continues to grow at a rapid pace. Google’s e-Conomy SEA 2025 report projects the digital sector could reach about $99 billion in 2025. Digital payments may rise from $340 billion in 2023 to $538 billion in 2025.
Furthermore, the World Bank’s Global Findex 2025 report shows increased access to financial services. Account ownership in Indonesia rose from around 20% in 2011 to nearly 60% by 2024. This change connects to high smartphone use and broader financial inclusion programs.
Digital financial services reach more sectors today, supported by strong adoption across banking, trading, and mobile systems. These conditions create additional space for firms such as Robinhood to scale products across both equities and crypto categories. Could this growth push Indonesia toward becoming a major regional hub for digital investing?
Robinhood plans to connect Indonesian users to U.S. equities and cryptocurrencies after regulatory approval. The company said, “Following the acquisition of Buana Capital, we’ll continue to serve its brokerage customers with Indonesian financial products.”
Related: Robinhood, Susquehanna To Launch CFTC-Regulated Exchange
Regulatory Clarity Supports Foreign Entrants
Indonesia recently shifted digital-asset oversight to the Otoritas Jasa Keuangan (OJK). This move forms part of broader regulatory reforms designed to support innovation in fintech and digital trading.
The country also maintains regulatory sandboxes, tiered licensing structures, and open-finance systems. These tools support product development while ensuring regulatory safeguards. They also help foreign platforms integrate smoothly by acquiring licensed local entities rather than building compliance systems on their own.
Robinhood’s acquisitions remain subject to OJK and other regulatory approvals. Both deals are expected to close in the first half of 2026.
According to reports, this entry aligns with a trend across the sector. U.S. platforms are now expanding into fast-growing regions where younger users and clearer rules create new opportunities. Robinhood’s earlier moves into the EU and UK reflect similar positioning.
Regional competition may intensify. Local exchanges, regional fintech groups, and global platforms such as Binance and Coinbase have strengthened their presence across Asia. Robinhood’s arrival could reshape how retail investors engage with traditional and digital-asset markets.
