Indonesia to expand digital payments to China, S Korea by Q1 2026

Bank Indonesia (BI) aims to expand the use of QRIS (Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard) for cross-border payments with China and South Korea by the first quarter of 2026.

The initiative is part of efforts to strengthen digital payment acceptance and develop a global payment system.

BI officials, including Governor Perry Warjiyo, said that preparations are underway to implement QRIS transactions between Indonesia and these countries.

Deputy Governor Filianingsih Hendarta mentioned that negotiations with China and South Korea are in advanced stages, with plans to facilitate travel and transactions for Indonesian citizens.

BI is also exploring cooperation with India and other Asian nations.

Currently, QRIS cross-border payments are operational in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and Japan.

BI targets reaching 17 billion transactions and establishing partnerships with eight countries, with 45 million merchants and 60 million users involved in QRIS services.

🔗 Source: CNN Indonesia

🧠 Food for thought

Implications, context, and why it matters.

The full economic impact of the QRIS expansion needs to be clarified

The net economic benefit of extending Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard (QRIS) to China and Korea by Q1 2026 needs to be assessed beyond travel convenience for outbound Indonesian users.
While the total transaction value across Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand reached Rp1.66 trillion by June 2025, the split between inbound and outbound cross-border QRIS flows should be examined 1.
Inbound transactions from foreign tourists have been rising, while outbound spending by Indonesian users has been slowed slightly 2.
The merchant categories benefiting from the 35% rise in QRIS usage in places like Bali must be mapped to measure the effect on local small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) 1.

Payment and travel tech firms can target the incoming tourist wave

Payment providers and travel tech firms can turn BI’s planned QRIS link with China and Korea Selatan into new sales.
Payment service providers can close an acceptance gap by helping more Indonesian merchants take cross-border QRIS payments 3.
Tourists from China totaled 105,510 arrivals in November 2025, which gives firms a clear demand signal 4.
Companies can build integrated point-of-sale (POS) systems (the checkout hardware and software used by merchants) plus data analytics tools for tourist areas to track spending, which fits BI’s plan to take QRIS cross-border access to eight partner countries 5.