Indonesian authorities are investigating the use of bitcoin in the island of Bali, an official said. The process started after the central bank, on early December, issued a regulation banning the use of cryptocurrencies in payment systems. “We found out from some postings on social media that Bali appeared to have become a haven for bitcoin transactions,” said Causa Iman Karana, head of Bank Indonesia’s representative office in Bali.
Three weeks ago, police went undercover to investigate scores of businesses in Bali advertising online that they offered bitcoin payment services, said Karana. They found a couple stores still using bitcoin as a means of payment, but 44 businesses had now stopped.
“The next step is we will ban them as mandated by the law. We ask them not to use it anymore. Along with the Directorate of Special Crime Investigation unit, we will enforce the rule that all transactions in Indonesia must use rupiah.”
People in Bali said bitcoin was being used mainly by foreigners, which is Indonesia’s tourism hub and has a large expatriate community.
