Bitcoin Indonesia Brings 15 Communities Together

A closed-loop system allows bitcoin to circulate within an environment of participating members and merchants. In Indonesia, where bitcoin isn't currently recognized for direct payments, this model creates a practical pathway for communities to explore bitcoin's social and economic benefits. Through this model, community members can collect and redeem bitcoin among themselves and with approved merchants. This effectively demonstrates how bitcoin can work in real-world scenarios and in parallel with conventional financial systems.

The Bitcoin Indonesia Community is spearheading the initiative to expand its closed-loop system to 15 other communities in Indonesia using Fedi. In 2024, Bitcoin Indonesia – a non-profit focused on using Bitcoin to support human rights and financial sovereignty in Indonesia – created a closed-loop model to advance its circular economy and educate Indonesians about Bitcoin. 

Bitcoin Indonesia outlined this framework in its whitepaper, "Closed-Loop System Using Bitcoin as Community Points." Fedi helped realize this vision through e-cash, its community capabilities, and a Fedimint federation.

Building a National Movement

Bitcoin Indonesia's closed-loop model is demonstrating how Bitcoin can create economic opportunity in regions with restrictive payment regulations. Over the past year, communities across Indonesia have used the system to conduct peer-to-peer transactions, support local merchants, and build financial literacy. 

This grassroots adoption hasn't happened by accident. Bitcoin Indonesia has done the hard work to build community infrastructure to support it: 

• over 40 monthly meetups nationwide where people learn to use bitcoin in practical scenarios;

• Code Orange Dev School, which has since become an independent project to train developers who can build on this model and; 

• Bitcoin House in Bali, which serves as a hub for education and community coordination. 

The result is a robust ecosystem where bitcoin circulates not as a speculative asset, but as a functional community tool.

"Fedi helps Bitcoin Indonesia build a circular economy within existing regulations. Through Fedi, we treat bitcoin as community points, redeemed within the network rather than used as a direct means of payment,” said Dimas Surya Alfaruq, co-founder of Bitcoin Indonesia.

Sats-turday Market: A Blueprint for Cross-Community Adoption

On February 6, 2026, Bitcoin Indonesia will host Sats-turday Market, a three-day community gathering designed to introduce the closed-loop system to communities beyond the bitcoin space. They’ve invited 15 diverse groups, including:

• Lifestyle and hobbyist communities (Bandung Event Cosplay, Playdate Bandung, and Kaki Besi)

• Social impact organizations (Teman Manusia, Hi.Empowerment, and Volunteer Gen Z)

• Entrepreneurship networks (Bandung Hustle Circle, Entrepreneur Mom, and Mami perintis)

• Professional and educational groups (Crypto Legal, Cerdascuan.id, Dotsie Community, Breedy Community, Bandung 5AM the Club, and Teman Baru)

Each community will set up its own space at the market and invite its members to experience bitcoin transactions firsthand. These communities will be shown how to create their own Fedi Communities, demonstrating how different communities can adapt the closed-loop model to their needs. 

What This Means for Bitcoin Adoption

The Sats-turday Market represents a test: Can bitcoin’s closed-loop system extend beyond bitcoin-native communities into everyday social groups? If successful, this gathering could provide a replicable model for grassroots bitcoin adoption in regions with restrictive regulatory environments. 

Bitcoin Indonesia is showing that bitcoin’s value proposition extends beyond financial benefits to social benefits. When people can use bitcoin within communities they already trust, the barrier to entry drops significantly and stands a chance to be part of everyday community life.