Sidewalk Gold Traders in Senen: The Starting Link in the City's Gold Circulation

In the sidewalks of Pasar Senen, Central Jakarta, gold transactions take place without glass display cases or bright lighting like in jewellery shops. Armed only with small carts and simple testing equipment, these street-side traders play a role far greater than merely buying and selling. They serve as the starting point for the circulation of gold in the city. Citizens’ damaged jewellery—such as dented rings, broken bracelets, and snapped necklaces—changes hands on these sidewalks. “I only buy. The items I buy are scrap, the broken or defective ones. Then I sell them to the boss. It’s the boss who melts the gold,” said Poman (60), a street-side gold trader in the Jalan Senen III area, on Tuesday (14/4/2026). At his simple stall, there are no signs of luxury. A small silver-coloured cart, a sticker reading “BUY GOLD BUY,” and some basic equipment form the main capital for conducting transactions. Yet it is from this place that the flow of gold begins. The role of sidewalk traders often goes unnoticed. However, they act as a bridge between the public who need quick money and the larger gold processing industry. The collected gold is sorted, tested, and melted to re-enter the market in new forms. Traders like Poman do not work alone. They are part of a network involving investors, processors, and shop traders. However, being at the very beginning of the supply chain also means that the greatest risks fall on them. “I’ve lost up to Rp 10 million before, and some have lost up to Rp 20 million,” said Poman.