Christopher Tahir translated Satoshi’s words for Indonesia
Seeing Bitcoin tools everywhere, understanding was still blocked by a language barrier
Christopher Tahir has traded nearly every financial product in the market – shares, commodities, indices, options, futures, currencies, and crypto. But it was Bitcoin that pushed him beyond trading and into a new role: translator, advocate, and community builder.
Tahir first came across Bitcoin in 2012 but didn’t engage with it seriously until years later.
“Actually the initial time when I was drawn into Bitcoin was when my close friend, who is very into tech... asked me, 'Why don't you start mining cryptocurrencies?’” recalled Tahir.
He began mining Ethereum during the ether boom but eventually decided that holding Bitcoin was more energy-efficient – and better suited to his long-term outlook.
At first, he shared the skepticism many in traditional finance had toward Bitcoin.
"Until today, there are many Wall Street traders or investors that had negative view on Bitcoin. So I had the same as well."
But in 2017, that view changed. He read the whitepaper and came away convinced:
“I thought, 'Oh, this could be a revolutionary asset that can change people's life'."
Bringing Bitcoin to Indonesian speakers
That realization sparked a hands-on initiative. In 2018, Tahir translated the Bitcoin whitepaper into Indonesian to make it accessible to more people.
"Most Indonesians might not speak English, let alone the tech part of the whitepaper," he said. “I just try to break the barrier to enter. Let's translate this into Indonesian and see whether it can help people to learn about Bitcoin."
The translation emerged from a grassroots effort. Tahir had started building a crypto-focused WhatsApp group, which later moved to Telegram to accommodate more people. His goal was to create a space where Indonesians could learn, discuss, and question Bitcoin on their own terms.
While many new investors still explore altcoins first, Tahir believes the translation helped plant the right seeds. His name became known in the local crypto ecosystem, and his reputation grew as someone focused more on clarity than hype.
Hype, regulation, and education
Tahir sees another major obstacle to Bitcoin adoption in Indonesia now: unrealistic expectations.
"What people always see when they get into crypto market is 'I want to get rich quick.' That is what they have in their mind. 'I want to be a billionaire in the next three months', which I think most people will not be able to achieve."
That mindset, he said, often keeps people from appreciating what Bitcoin actually offers: a long-term path to financial stability and potential wealth accumulation.
“We cannot force them to drink the water. We can just bring them to the river,” he lamented.
Some institutions in Indonesia have shown interest in holding Bitcoin, but unclear regulations remain a major barrier to adoption. The government is currently exploring central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), which Tahir believes could eventually pave the way for more supportive crypto policies.
He added that Indonesia might take cues from Singapore’s regulatory approach, though it’s uncertain when or how that will happen.
Bitcoin’s role in the real economy
When asked whether Bitcoin could serve Indonesia’s large unbanked population, Tahir was cautiously optimistic.
While Bitcoin can’t legally be used as a payment method in Indonesia, Tahir sees it as a powerful savings tool. Some exchanges now allow deposits via convenience stores, making it accessible even in rural areas.
“With Bitcoin, people can accumulate their wealth and create generational wealth,” he said.
He also pointed to gaps within the local ecosystem. “Only a handful of communities focus on Bitcoin,” he said, naming the Indonesia Bitcoin Conference (IDBC) and Crypto Watch), which he helped establish.
Due to time constraints, he has since stepped back from IDBC, but believes education remains essential. Programs like My First Bitcoin, he said, could be adapted for Indonesia and revived through future conference efforts.
Tahir also urged local exchanges to play a bigger role – particularly by sponsoring key opinion leaders (KOLs) who can share grounded, accurate Bitcoin knowledge with the wider public.
A message to skeptics
Asked what he would say to skeptical Indonesians, Tahir didn’t hesitate.
"I won't force you to put your whole assets into Bitcoin, but at least you need to have a chunk of your assets into Bitcoin, because to be able to reach the top 5% of Bitcoin owners, you don't even need to have one Bitcoin. You just need to have 0.1, which is still quite affordable at the current state."
He encourages people to stop viewing Bitcoin as expensive or out of reach. It’s not about buying a whole coin – it’s about starting somewhere, understanding what it is, and thinking long-term.
For Tahir, Bitcoin isn’t a shortcut. It’s a foundation.
Listen to the whole interview on The Crypto Radio's live player or in Guardians of Bitcoin podcast.
