August 22, 2025 | 09:50 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard (QRIS) was officially launched in Japan, coinciding with the 80th anniversary of Indonesian Independence Day on Sunday, August 17, 2025. This expansion marks QRIS's entry beyond the ASEAN region, following its prior connections with Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore.
Bank Indonesia (BI) is also trialing an interconnection with the People's Bank of China (PBoC). This partnership is expected to facilitate cross-border trade for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and boost tourism between the two countries. The trial involves the Indonesian Payment System Association (ASPI), UnionPay International (UPI), and several payment system providers.
As of June 2025, cross-border QRIS transactions have seen significant growth:
Thailand: 994,890 transactions valued at Rp437.54 billion since August 2022.
Malaysia: 4.31 million transactions valued at Rp1.15 trillion since May 2023.
Singapore: 238,216 transactions valued at Rp77.06 billion since November 2023.
Japan: Transactions began on August 17, 2025, as a collaboration between BI, ASPI, Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), the Payment Japan Association (PJA), Netstars, and other financial institutions.
BI Deputy Governor Filianingsih Hendarta stated that QRIS will continue to expand to other countries, including China, India, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia.
Despite its continuous international expansion and significant achievements, the use of QRIS is not without its challenges. Like any technology, the system offers both advantages that provide convenience for users and limitations that still require attention.
Benefits of QRIS
The primary advantage of QRIS is its convenience. With only a mobile phone and a payment application, transactions can be completed in seconds.
The system is highly integrated, requiring just a single QR code to work with all participating applications, which in turn reduces dependence on physical cash.
All transactions are automatically logged in the application, which simplifies bookkeeping and strengthens the financial records of SMEs, making them more attractive to financial institutions.
According to an official BI release, some key benefits of QRIS for businesses include:
Potential to boost sales by offering a non-cash payment option.
Ability to keep pace with the digitalization of banking and e-wallet payments.
Increased consumer foot traffic.
Reduced costs associated with cash management, including providing change.
All transactions are digitally recorded and accessible at any time.
Minimized risk of cash loss or theft.
Simplified access to credit due to a well-documented transaction history.
A convenient method for non-cash payments of fees, bills, and purchases.
Opportunities to participate in government programs led by BI and other ministries.
Limitations of QRIS
Despite its benefits, QRIS has some limitations:
Transaction Limit: The maximum transaction limit is capped at Rp 10 million, as per BI Regulation No. 24/1/2022. This is an increase from the previous limit of only Rp 2 million.
Internet Dependency: The system relies on a stable internet connection, making it vulnerable to technical issues in areas with poor network coverage.
Digital Fraud Risk: There is a risk of digital fraud through fake QR codes.
Transaction Fees: A transaction fee of up to 0.7% can be a burden for small SMEs.
Uneven Implementation: The QRIS service is not consistently available in all regions due to limited digital infrastructure.
Nia Heppy and Antara contributed to the report.
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