Can You Pay in US Dollars or Crypto in Bali?

No. In Bali, as everywhere in Indonesia, every payment must be made in rupiah, and crypto is not legal tender. The basis is Law No. 7 of 2011 on Currency, Bank Indonesia regulations, and Bali Governor's Circular No. 4 of 2023. Details below (checked September 2026).

What does the law say about dollars?

Article 21 of Law 7/2011 requires rupiah for every transaction intended as payment, for settling obligations with money, and for other financial transactions inside Indonesia. The exceptions are narrow: certain state budget transactions, grants to or from abroad, international trade, foreign-currency bank deposits and international financing. Paying for dinner, a scooter rental or a day tour is not one of them.

Article 23 also bans refusing rupiah as payment unless there is doubt the money is genuine. A seller who only accepts dollars is the one breaking the rule.

What is the penalty now?

The original Article 33 carried up to one year of detention and a fine of up to Rp200 million. Since 2 January 2026, Law No. 1 of 2026 on Criminal Penalty Adjustment has removed the detention and replaced it with a fine of up to category III, which is Rp50 million under the new Criminal Code. The provision applies to "every person", but enforcement has mostly targeted businesses.

Bank Indonesia adds a pricing rule in regulation PBI No. 17/3/PBI/2015: businesses in Indonesia must quote prices only in rupiah, and dual pricing (rupiah and a foreign currency together) is banned. Violations carry administrative sanctions.

What about bitcoin and other crypto?

Owning and trading crypto assets through licensed traders is legal in Indonesia, and since January 2025 supervision sits with the financial services authority OJK. What is banned is using crypto to pay for goods or services.

Bali has been in the spotlight twice. In January 2018, Bank Indonesia found 44 businesses in Bali, from hotels and vehicle rentals to cafes and tour packages, accepting bitcoin; most said they had stopped after being visited. In late May 2023, Governor Wayan Koster announced that foreign tourists paying with crypto would face action together with Bali Police and the regional law and human rights office: administrative sanctions, business closure, deportation and criminal proceedings.

Has any tourist actually been deported for it? The provincial government said at the time that 129 foreigners were deported between January and May 2023, but for many different violations. As of September 2026 we found no official immigration release naming a tourist deported solely for paying in crypto. The threat is real; a public case is not.

What does the governor's rule say for tourists?

Circular No. 4 of 2023, in force since 31 May 2023, lists 12 obligations and 8 prohibitions for foreign visitors. Three concern money: exchange currency only at licensed money changers (banks or non-banks showing a licence number and a Bank Indonesia QR logo), pay with QRIS, and transact in rupiah. How to pick a money changer and use ATMs is covered in our guide to changing money and paying in Bali.

Can you use a payment app from home?

Yes, if your country is connected to cross-border QRIS. On 27 September 2026, Bank Indonesia Deputy Governor Filianingsih Hendarta named six countries: Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan (linked since August 2025 via JPQR Global), South Korea (officially linked on 1 April 2026) and China. Inbound payments by foreign tourists have reached 17.8 million transactions worth Rp6.2 trillion. Hong Kong and Timor-Leste have signed memoranda of understanding, India is under discussion, and Saudi Arabia is planned next.

How it works: scan the QRIS code at the till with your home bank or e-wallet app. The bill stays in rupiah and your app converts it to your currency. Not every app in those countries takes part, so check that yours supports Indonesian QRIS, and what rate and fees it charges.

When are dollar prices still normal to see?

• On international booking apps. Villa or hotel prices shown in USD on global platforms are usually just a display conversion based on your account currency. What matters is the currency of the final charge on the payment page.
• Quotes from villa agents. Many villa and property agents still quote in USD for foreign renters, even though PBI 17/3/PBI/2015 says prices should be quoted in rupiah. Treat the USD figure as an estimate, then ask for an invoice and pay in rupiah.
• Money changer rate boards. Showing USD rates is their job; that is an exchange, not a payment.

Watch for this red flag: a villa host or tour operator asking for cash dollars, USDT or a transfer to an overseas account. Beyond breaking the rules, you lose a valid record of the transaction if there is a dispute or a scam. The "one dollar equals so much" rate a seller uses is also often worse than a money changer's.

So what should you carry?

Enough rupiah cash for warungs, parking and temple donations; a debit or credit card for hotels and larger restaurants; QRIS if your app supports it. The Rp150,000 tourist levy is charged in rupiah too. If a seller insists on dollars or crypto, decline politely and shop somewhere else.