Indonesia QRIS adoption expands

Bank Indonesia reported rapid growth in the QRIS cash‑less system. By late July, 65 % of public‑sector entities in North Kalimantan were using QRIS, and the platform had reached 63 million users and more than 45 million merchants nationwide, with a projected transaction volume of 17 billion by year‑end. A week later, regional branches emphasized further expansion among micro, small and medium enterprises. In Makassar, the South Sulawesi office promoted QRIS at the Wastra Heritage Market 2026, urging creative‑sector businesses to adopt digital payments. In Malang, the East Java office recorded a 166 % year‑on‑year increase in QRIS transaction volume across seven districts. Officials described QRIS as a “golden bridge” linking UMKM to the formal financial ecosystem and highlighted its growing international recognition.

On 2 August 2026 the Karya Kreatif Sulawesi × South Sulawesi Digital Festival (DIGIFEST) in Makassar concluded with IDR 18.27 billion pledged for UMKM financing and more than IDR 1.35 billion in sales, featuring over 100 UMKM participants, 8,000 visitors and more than 10,000 QRIS‑based cashless transactions. Bank Indonesia officials underscored the platform’s role in lowering payment costs – merchants pay roughly a 0.7 % discount rate, zero for religious and social‑aid institutions – and in improving financial transparency and credit access for micro‑enterprises. The agency also noted infrastructure gaps in three Central Sulawesi districts that require telecom collaboration.