Key takeaways:
- Bybit CEO Ben Zhou discussed Indonesia’s growing role in crypto adoption during a fireside chat at Coinfest Asia 2025.
- A side event co-hosted with Tether focused on stablecoins, regulation, and education as drivers of sustainable growth in Indonesia.
- Real-world asset tokenization, with $65 billion in total value locked in 2025, emerged as a key theme shaping future use cases.
Indonesia’s crypto future in focus at Coinfest Asia
Bybit, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, underscored its commitment to Southeast Asia during Coinfest Asia 2025 in Bali. CEO and Co-founder Ben Zhou joined Steven Suhadi, Co-founder of Coinfest Asia, for a fireside chat exploring Indonesia’s pivotal role in global crypto adoption.
Zhou noted that Indonesia’s young population and openness to digital assets make it one of the most dynamic crypto markets worldwide. He pointed to the importance of clear regulations in sustaining this momentum, remarking that “Indonesia shows how education, youth participation, and progressive regulation can combine to build a thriving crypto ecosystem.”
A key theme of the discussion was the growing adoption of real-world asset (RWA) tokenization. Data shows that tokenized assets reached $65 billion in total value locked in 2025, highlighting increasing demand for real-world applications beyond speculation. Zhou described asset tokenization and ecosystem building as priorities for Bybit but cautioned that adoption will take time and must align with regulatory frameworks.
Bybit and Tether co-host dialogue on adoption
Alongside the main conference, Bybit partnered with Tether APAC to host After Sunset, a side event that gathered Indonesian regulators, key opinion leaders, and Bybit VIPs. The event provided a platform to discuss pathways for advancing digital asset adoption in the country.
Zhou emphasized the importance of regulation in his opening remarks, stating that “Regulation is not a hurdle, but a foundation for sustainable growth. The financial regulators have provided much-needed clarity and infrastructure for the industry.”
Eddy Christian Ng, Tether’s APAC representative, highlighted stablecoins’ role in promoting financial inclusivity across emerging markets and reiterated Tether’s collaboration with Bybit on education and adoption initiatives.
The evening featured a panel discussion moderated by Robert Harianto, where Zhou, Ng, and Lawrence Samantha, CEO of NOBI Group, explored how trust, education, and partnerships can strengthen Indonesia’s crypto landscape.
The bottom line
Bybit’s participation at Coinfest Asia 2025 and its collaboration with Tether reflect a growing focus on Indonesia as a leading market for crypto adoption. With regulatory clarity, education, and tokenization shaping the future, Indonesia is emerging as a key hub in the global digital asset economy.
