Online loans and BNPL on the rise, young people urged to start regular investing

The rising use of online loans (pinjol) and Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services among the youth is seen as a signal that financial management discipline needs to be instilled early. Amid easy access to digital financial services, young people are increasingly at risk of falling into consumption-driven behaviour that could affect long-term financial conditions. Data from the Financial Services Authority (OJK) shows that as of March 2026, 48.65 per cent of delinquent online loan debt originated from the 19 to 34 age group. Meanwhile, total BNPL debt reached Rp 28.3 trillion with 30.81 million users. The rate of problematic online loans or TWP90 stood at 4.52 per cent as of March 2026. The situation is seen as indicating that financial management and the use of consumer debt remain challenges amid expanding access to digital financial services. Indodax Chief Marketing Officer Aloysia Dian said that high usage of online loans and pay-later among young people indicates a mismatch between digital consumption patterns and readiness to build longer-term financial stability. “A simple step such as setting aside at least 5 per cent of disposable income from earnings for regular investing can foster long-term financial discipline,” she said. In this context, Indodax urged the younger generation to start building healthier financial habits through a routine investment strategy such as Dollar-Cost Averaging (DCA). The method involves regular investments of a fixed amount to build long-term assets. However, amid easy access to digital credit and an instantly gratifying lifestyle, the use of these services should be balanced with more disciplined financial management. Additionally, borrowing history and payment discipline are cited as important parts of an individual’s financial track record. This can affect future access to finance, from mortgage applications (KPR) and vehicle loans to business financing. To support these needs, Indodax provides the Regular Investment feature enabling users to invest automatically on a scheduled basis. The company also states it will continue to strengthen education for novice users across various channels to help the public understand risks, the basics of investing, and the importance of building healthier financial habits in the digital era. As a cryptocurrency trading platform that has been operating in Indonesia for more than 12 years, Indodax says it will continue to support financial literacy through education, development of investment features, and strengthened platform security in line with applicable regulations.