Indonesia’s digital payment activity continued to grow in August 2026, with foreign tourists also contributing to the increasing use of QRIS for transactions across the country.
Bank Indonesia (BI) Governor Destry Damayanti said the volume of digital payment transactions reached 6.11 billion transactions in August, representing growth of 40.36 per cent year on year. The figure includes transactions through mobile banking, internet banking and server-based electronic money.
“The volume of digital payment transactions reached 6.11 billion transactions, representing a 40.36% year-over-year increase in August 2026, driven by the expanding acceptance of digital payments,” Destry said during BI’s Board of Governors Meeting in Jakarta on Wednesday, 23 September.
The growth came as digital payment acceptance expanded, including through QRIS, Indonesia’s national QR-based payment standard.
QRIS Transactions Continue to Grow
BI recorded particularly strong growth in QRIS transactions during August. QRIS transaction volume increased by 67.22 per cent year on year, supported by a rise in both users and merchants. Internet banking transactions grew 15.12 per cent, while mobile banking transactions increased by 47.08 per cent.
Destry said digital economic and financial transactions continued to grow in August, supported by payment systems that remained secure, smooth and reliable, alongside stable infrastructure and a healthy industry structure.
The broader payment infrastructure also recorded growth. BI-FAST retail transactions reached 549 million, an annual increase of 37.72 per cent, with a total value of Rp1,346 trillion.
Meanwhile, transactions through BI-RTGS recorded a value of Rp16,545 trillion, down 3.64 per cent year on year. The system recorded 0.86 million transactions, representing a decline of 1.78 per cent.
The amount of currency in circulation also increased. BI recorded outstanding currency in circulation of Rp1,332 trillion in August, up 12.88 per cent year on year.
“In addition, Bank Indonesia continues to ensure an adequate supply of rupiah banknotes of a quality fit for circulation throughout the territory of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI), including the Frontier, Outermost and Remote (3T) regions.,” Destry said.
Foreign Tourists Contribute Through Cross-Border QRIS
The growth of QRIS is also reflected in cross-border transactions, particularly spending by foreign visitors in Indonesia.
According to BI data reported by CNBC Indonesia, the total value of transactions made by foreign tourists in Indonesia using QRIS reached Rp6.2 trillion from the launch of the cross-border QRIS system in August 2022 through the end of August 2026. The transactions amounted to 17.8 million.
BI Deputy Governor Filianingsih Hendarta explained that the net inbound figure reached Rp4.6 trillion over the same period. Net inbound refers to the value of transactions made by visitors from partner countries in Indonesia being higher than transactions made by Indonesians using the service in partner countries.
The figures indicate that cross-border QRIS is being used by international visitors while travelling in Indonesia, alongside its use by Indonesians travelling to participating countries.
The continued expansion of QRIS is taking place within a wider digital payment ecosystem. As of June 2026, BI recorded 65.77 million QRIS users and 44.86 million merchants, with 96.68 per cent of merchants classified as micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
For international visitors, the availability of QRIS offers another way to pay for goods and services during their trips, while the growing merchant network expands the number of businesses able to accept digital payments.
