Indonesia taps into the future of payment with NFC-enabled digital payment system

Imagine taking public transport without having to pull out your wallet or scan a QR code. Simply tap your phone on the reader, and the gate opens with no hassle, no queue. 

This is the new experience the Central Bank of Indonesia (BI) brings through QRIS Tap In-Tap Out, a digital payment innovation designed to make public transport journeys faster, safer, and more convenient.  

The feature was officially launched during the Indonesia Digital Economy and Finance Festival (FEKDI) and the Indonesia Fintech Summit and Expo (IFSE) 2025 in Jakarta on October 30.  

The contactless digital payment system allowed users to make payments without scanning a QR code. Passengers simply tap their NFC-enabled mobile phones on a reader, completing the transaction in around 0.3 seconds. 

This ultra-fast process offered a clear advantage over the previous QRIS method, which required scanning a code or using a chip-based card.  

BI’s Director of the Payment System Policy, Fitria Irmi Triswati, said we “want to ensure that technological progress truly becomes a driver of welfare for everyone”.  

Previously, the QRIS Tap feature was available only in Jakarta, having been trialled and then fully implemented on the MRT Jakarta service.  

Now it can also be used on LRT Jabodetabek, KRL commuter trains, interprovincial buses, and city buses operating across 13 provinces in Indonesia.  

In the future, the service will be expanded to other modes of transport, including ferry transport servicesa across more provinces of the country.

Triswati said the digitalisation of payment systems was an integral part of Indonesia’s broader economic development vision.  

Through the Indonesia Payment System Blueprint (BSPI) 2025-2030, reinforced by the President’s Asta Cita vision, the digital transformation of payment systems was directed towards creating an inclusive, efficient, and sovereign national payment ecosystem, she explained.  

More efficient transport payments 

According to Triswati, with QRIS Tap, commuters no longer need to carry physical cards. They could use any digital payment app, such as an e-wallet or mobile banking app that supported the QRIS Tap feature.

“The single tap feature applies to fixed fares, while tap in-tap out applies to dynamic fare systems,” Triswati explained. 

For now, the feature was available only on Android devices, but BI expects that Apple iOS integration will follow soon.  

Beyond improving transaction efficiency, QRIS Tap also supported the government’s push for affordable and accessible public transport.  

With a null per cent merchant discount rate (MDR) and no service fees, BI ensures that transport digitalisation adheres to principles of fairness and sustainability. 

In the near future, QRIS Tap will also be expanded to the retail sector and coexist with other payment instruments in shopping centres and MSMEs, helping to strengthen Indonesia’s universal digital payment standard. 

To subscribe to the GovInsider bulletin, click here.

Collaboration is the key  

Triswati emphasised that strategic collaboration among regulators, industry players, central and local governments, and the wider public was crucial to ensure that digital transformation delivered tangible benefits for the national economy.

“Many innovations have been born out of collaboration – from QRIS as the national retail payment standard, to BI-FAST for quick and efficient fund transfers, and even the exploration of Digital Rupiah as the foundation for our future economy,” she said.  

In the third quarter of 2025, QRIS recorded over 58 million users and 41 million merchants, with total transactions reaching IDR1.92 quadrillion (S$99.5 billion) – positioning Indonesia among Southeast Asia’s largest digital payment markets. 

BI has also been driving cross-border payment collaboration by linking the QRIS system with other regional payment networks. Currently, QRIS is already connected with Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Japan, enabling Indonesians to make overseas payments using QRIS.  

Meanwhile, partnerships with China and South Korea are in the trial phase and are expected to be implemented soon. 

“QRIS is a symbol of successful cross-sector collaboration – a source of national pride and a new face of Indonesia’s digital economy,” Triswati said. 

She further noted that in a rapidly changing digital world, Indonesia must take a leadership role rather than merely following global trends.  

“Indonesia must not just go with the flow of change. We must lead the transformation, moving confidently towards Golden Indonesia 2045 through synergy and conviction,” she noted. 

Trust as the foundation 

Triswati emphasised that the success of payment system digitalisation should not only be measured by the number of users or transaction volumes, but also by the level of public trust in the system.  

“One of the most important elements of digitalisation is trust. Trust takes a long time to build, but only a second to break, and a long time to rebuild,” she cautioned.

To that end, BI continued to strengthen risk management and governance to ensure that the pace of innovation never compromised transaction integrity and consumer security. 

In addressing the challenges of cybercrime, data theft, and digital identity misuse, BI has been encouraging the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in early detection and risk management systems.  

“Using technology as a solution can turn digital risks into opportunities. With AI-powered early warning systems, we can ensure that Indonesia’s financial transactions remain secure, efficient, and trustworthy,” Triswati concluded.