OJK Reminds Investors of the Importance of Understanding Risks in Investing
The trend of cryptocurrency asset investments in Indonesia has continued to strengthen in recent times. Amid this surge in interest, the Financial Services Authority (OJK) has reminded investors of the importance of understanding risks to avoid rash decisions in investing.
Deputy Director of Analysis, Information, and Crisis Management for Financial Sector Technology Innovation, Digital Financial Assets, and Cryptocurrency Assets, Yoice Stefano, reminded that only officially registered cryptocurrency assets may be traded domestically.
According to him, the safe cryptocurrency assets to trade are those included in the official list (whitelist) and listed on recognised cryptocurrency exchanges. This list is determined by the Financial Services Authority (OJK) in accordance with applicable regulations.
“Investors must ensure that the assets they purchase are legal and registered. Do not be swayed by trends, only to enter unclear instruments,” Yoice stressed during the OJK Media Gathering in Batam, 29 April to 1 May 2026.
The event was attended by the Head of OJK for North Sumatra Province, Khoirul Muttaqien, Director of Supervision for Financial Services Institutions, Education, Consumer Protection, and Strategic Management Services for OJK North Sumatra, Yusri, as well as Deputy Director of the Behavioural Supervision Division for Financial Services Institutions, Education, and Consumer Protection for OJK North Sumatra, Yovvi Sukandar.
Several popular cryptocurrency assets such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and stablecoin USDT remain the primary choices for investors.
However, Yoice emphasised that popularity does not necessarily guarantee safety.
He explained that cryptocurrency price movements are heavily influenced by global factors, from geopolitical conditions to economic policies of major countries. This makes cryptocurrency prices far more volatile than conventional investment instruments.
“Unlike other investments, crypto is highly sensitive to global issues. International conflicts or changes in economic policies can immediately impact prices,” he clarified.
The latest data shows that the number of cryptocurrency investors in Indonesia continues to grow. However, this increase is not always accompanied by a rise in transaction values. In recent months, transaction values have actually declined amid rising global uncertainty.
Yoice views this phenomenon as indicating that, although interest is high, investors are becoming more cautious in transacting.
From a supervisory perspective, OJK continues to strengthen regulations to minimise risks, including requiring cryptocurrency asset traders to implement Know Your Customer (KYC) principles.
This step aims to ensure that every transaction can be traced and to prevent financial crime practices.
Nevertheless, he acknowledged that the global and decentralised nature of crypto makes supervision not always straightforward. Risks such as hacking, asset theft, and fraud remain major challenges.
“Cases of fund loss in crypto often occur due to very fast and cross-border transactions. Once funds have moved, tracking them is not always easy,” he said.
Therefore, he urged the public not to make impulsive investment decisions. Understanding the product, market mechanisms, and risks must form the basis before investing.
In addition, investors also need to actively follow global developments that can affect the crypto market. Without such understanding, the potential for losses will be even greater.
“The investment paradigm has now changed. Many are attracted to crypto due to the potential for high returns. But it must be remembered that high return is always accompanied by high risk,” Yoice stated.
With a combination of increasingly strong regulations and continuously improved literacy, it is hoped that the crypto ecosystem in Indonesia can grow more healthily, transparently, and capable of providing protection for investors.