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There is some bad news coming from Bali for the tourists who plan to pay in crypto for goods and services while visiting Indonesia’s beautiful island. The Governor of Bali, Wayan Koster said in a media statement that those tourists who do not comply with terms and conditions of their visa permit will be dealt firmly. He further stated that if tourists pay for goods and services using crypto, strict action will be taken against them as crypto as a form of payment is not allowed in the country. The tourists shall only be using Rupiah as a means of payment otherwise they may end up facing punishments which include one year jail term or deportation or a fine of 200 million Rupiah, which is approximately $13000.

This warning was issued after an investigation was conducted by a local news outlet Kompas, that many businesses were accepting crypto payments from tourists in restaurants, motorbike rental companies and meditation studios. According to the news reports, Russian tourists were facing issues while paying with cash as the country is bearing aftermath of Ukrainian war: facing economic sanctions from international community.

The Governor also warned that businesses who accept crypto payments instead of Rupiah will be dealt strictly with tougher bans which include closure of business activity, administrative sanctions, fines, criminal penalties or jail.

During the same press briefing, head of the Bank Indonesia’s Bali representative said that crypto is banned as a form of payment in the country and is only allowed for tradeable commodities on Futures Exchanges.

Bali has always attracted tourists who love beaches, specially in recent years, skilled professionals and digital nomads have relocated to the island to work remotely so that they can work while enjoying beautiful scenery. However, with latest development, many tourists have expressed their unhappiness with the Indonesian Government’s decision to ban crypto and said that they will revisit their decision to visit the island if government does not change its stance.

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