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Key Insights Robinhood is entering Indonesia through acquisitions of Buana Capital (a local brokerage) and PT Pedagang Aset Kripto (a licensed digital asset trader), marking its first major move into Southeast Asia. Indonesia’s market offers over 19 million capital market investors and 17 million crypto investors, providing Robinhood immediate access to local regulatory compliance and crypto infrastructure. SINGAPORE/JAKARTA — US trading platform Robinhood is expanding its international footprint with a major push into Indonesia, agreeing to acquire two local fintech companies in a bid to compete in one of the world’s most rapidly growing cryptocurrency and capital markets. In an announcement on Sunday, the California-based company said it has entered into agreements to purchase Buana Capital, an Indonesian brokerage, and PT Pedagang Aset Kripto, a licensed local digital financial asset trader. The twin acquisitions, it said, “mark our entry into one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing markets.” Indonesia’s scale is a key draw. The country has more than 19 million capital market investors and over 17 million crypto investors, a demographic Robinhood describes as a “compelling market for equities and crypto trading.” Acquiring an established brokerage provides immediate regulatory compliance and local presence, while the purchase of a licensed digital asset trader gives Robinhood rapid access to the country’s crypto infrastructure. “Indonesia represents a fast-growing market for trading, making it an exciting place to further Robinhood’s mission to democratize finance for all,” said Patrick Chan, Robinhood’s Head of Asia. Strategic Entry Into a Region With Surging Crypto Adoption Robinhood said it will continue serving Buana Capital clients with Indonesian financial products. Over time, it aims to introduce its own brokerage and crypto trading services, enabling Indonesian customers to trade US equities, cryptocurrencies and more at scale. The company did not disclose financial terms. Both acquisitions—each subject to approval by Indonesia’s Financial Services Authority (Otoritas Jasa Keuangan, OJK) and other regulators—are expected to close in the first half of 2026. Pieter Tanuri, the majority owner of both Indonesian firms, will remain involved as a strategic advisor. Indonesia has emerged as a powerhouse in global crypto adoption. Chainalysis ranks it seventh worldwide in its 2025 adoption index and the leader in Southeast Asia. Crypto transaction value in the country surged in 2024, tripling year-on-year to more than 650 trillion rupiah (US$39.7 billion), according to Reuters. The region is attracting increasing interest from trading firms. Recent entrants include Doo Financial and XTB, which both moved to secure Indonesian licensing to expand across Southeast Asia. Robinhood’s acquisition spree aligns with its broader international expansion drive. The firm entered the European and UK markets in 2024, began building an Asian base in Singapore, and is now applying for a Dubai DFSA license, with industry veteran Mario Camara hired earlier this year to lead its new MENA business. Its product lineup has also expanded sharply. The company entered the prediction markets space through an acquisition in November, calling it one of its fastest-growing revenue sources. In March, it launched event-based trading contracts and later acquired MIAXdx to reduce dependency on external providers such as Kalshi. Robinhood has also been pushing into tokenized financial assets. CEO Vlad Tenev recently described tokenization as “the biggest innovation in capital markets in more than ten years,” outlining plans to let users deploy tokenized stocks as collateral for crypto loans. The company’s market performance has mirrored its aggressive expansion: Robinhood shares have risen 268% this year through December 5, far outpacing the wider market since its 2021 New York listing. Robinhood Investigated for Allegedly Misleading Crypto Traders on Costs Robinhood Expands in UK with Launch of Options Trading and Flexible Fees Still, competition abroad may be stiff. XTB CEO Omar Arnaout, whose firm has been expanding across Europe, said Robinhood could struggle to replicate its US success in fragmented European markets, describing his company as the continent’s equivalent of the US neobroker. For now, Indonesia marks Robinhood’s next major frontier—one where crypto adoption, regulatory pathways and digital asset enthusiasm appear firmly aligned with the company’s global ambitions.

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