Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs has blocked access to Polymarket, saying the crypto-based prediction market amounts to online gambling under local law.

The ministry said it had cut access to the platform and was tracing affiliated social media accounts for possible restrictions across other digital channels.

Alexander Sabar, director general of digital space supervision, claimed that platforms that allow users to wager money on uncertain outcomes remain gambling products, even when they use blockchain technology or crypto assets.

Polymarket lets users trade contracts tied to real-world events, including elections, sports, crypto prices and political outcomes. The platform has grown into one of the largest crypto…