Indonesia’s Financial Services Authority (OJK) has introduced regulation No. 6 of 2026, requiring all financial influencers who discuss or promote digital assets—including cryptocurrencies—to obtain a competency certificate. The move, reported by Bloomberg, marks a significant tightening of marketing oversight in one of the world’s fastest-growing crypto markets.
Under the new framework, influencers may only recommend digital assets listed on authorized exchanges and must verify that the service providers they promote hold valid regulatory licenses. Any paid partnerships or sponsored content must be clearly disclosed. Regulated financial firms that hire influencers for marketing are now legally responsible for the accuracy and compliance of all shared material. Violations can lead to written warnings, license revocation, or fines of up to 15 billion Indonesian rupiah (approximately $920,000).
The OJK’s rules also require that every marketing campaign involving digital assets be conducted through official company channels, with content supervised before publication. This structure aims to prevent unauthorized promotions of unlisted tokens and unlicensed platforms, anchoring crypto promotions firmly within Indonesia’s formal financial oversight system.
Indonesia’s decision reflects a global trend toward stricter regulation of ‘finfluencers.’ The United Kingdom strengthened financial promotion rules in 2024, with unauthorized influencers facing criminal charges. Australia’s securities regulator clarified in 2022 that influencers may need financial services licenses. The Philippines introduced crypto-specific marketing restrictions in 2025, and South Korea has proposed disclosure rules for influencers promoting digital assets. In April 2025, the British regulator led an international campaign that resulted in removal requests for 1,267 advertisements reaching at least 2.3 million accounts.
The new certification requirement places direct responsibility on both influencers and the firms that sponsor them. While separately licensed individuals are exempt from obtaining an additional certificate, the broader effect is a shift from reactive enforcement to proactive regulation, aiming to protect Indonesia’s millions of new retail investors from scams and misinformation.
