Across Indonesia, retail investing has grown rapidly in recent years, with the country's investor base surpassing 30 million in August 2026.1 As Indonesia’s investment landscape continues to develop, investors may look to explore a broader range of investment tools and strategies, including those available in global markets. Access to these tools can provide additional opportunities for portfolio diversification and more flexible investment approaches.
Ajaib, a fully digital investment platform now serving more than 7 million users2, was founded to help solve a simple problem: investing in Indonesia used to feel complicated and inaccessible for most people, especially younger generations and first-time investors.3 The company set out to make investing simpler and more accessible for all Indonesians, regardless of their financial background.
We recently spoke with Anderson Sumarli, Co-Founder and CEO of Ajaib, about their launch of US options, high-yield cash, and the partnership with Alpaca.
Expanding a Multi-Asset Platform for Investors
Founded in 2019 by Stanford graduates Anderson Sumarli and Yada Piyajomkwan, and backed by global investors including SoftBank, Y Combinator, and DST Global, Ajaib set out to open investing to people who had been unable to access Indonesia's capital markets.
“We saw that despite Indonesia’s massive population and growing digital economy, capital market participation remained relatively low because investing was still associated with high barriers and legacy processes. Our goal is to empower users to make informed financial decisions independently, which ultimately contributes to a more financially literate and investment-oriented generation in Indonesia,” added Sumarli.
Today, Ajaib offers access to stocks, mutual funds, bonds, and crypto through Ajaib Alpha, pairing access with education for a community where many are investing for the first time. "We focus on three things: accessibility, education, and product innovation," said Sumarli. "Many of our users are entering the capital markets for the first time, so we pair access with education to help them invest with confidence and think long term."
Users can open accounts and access investment products entirely online, while education helps them understand risk and develop healthy investing habits.
As a long-time partner of Alpaca, Ajaib has offered access to US stocks and ETFs, and attributes its growth to younger Indonesians becoming more financially aware and increasingly interested in investing. As these investors gain experience, their needs evolve. Ajaib expects this broader product ecosystem to strengthen engagement and support long-term growth in assets under management.
Increasing Global Access to US Markets with Options
To meet that demand, Ajaib has expanded their partnership with Alpaca with the launch of options trading and high-yield cash.
"US options naturally complement our broader ecosystem. US stocks provide exposure to global companies, Ajaib Alpha offers access to digital assets, and options introduce more advanced portfolio strategies for experienced users,” added Sumarli. “And with high-yield cash, we’re creating a more seamless investing experience because their capital can continue working for them even while they are waiting to enter the market or rebalance portfolios.”
Through its partnership with Alpaca, Ajaib can now offer its users:
- Direct access to US stocks and ETFs
- US options trading directly within its platform, providing access to a broader range of investment strategies
- High-yield cash, allowing eligible users to earn interest on uninvested cash, subject to applicable terms and conditions
“We chose Alpaca because they share a similar vision around expanding access to modern financial markets through technology. Their infrastructure, reliability, and Broker API flexibility allowed us to build global investment products that are easily integrated into the Ajaib experience. Beyond the technology itself, the Alpaca team has also been highly collaborative and aligned with our long-term vision,” said Sumarli.
"Ajaib's launch of options shows how a multi-asset platform can support investors as their needs grow more sophisticated," said Yoshi Yokokawa, Co-Founder and CEO of Alpaca. ”As Ajaib expands from stocks into options and high-yield cash, they are building the kind of multi-product ecosystem that helps investors grow their wealth, and we are proud to be their infrastructure partner."
Architecting the Future of Investing in Indonesia
Ajaib sees this work as part of the "Indonesia Emas 2045" vision, where financial inclusion and deeper capital market participation are central. “We see Ajaib playing a role in helping democratize access to investing for millions of Indonesians. Financial inclusion and capital market participation are important pillars of Indonesia Emas 2045, and we believe technology can significantly accelerate that progress. By helping lower barriers to investing and improving financial literacy, we hope to contribute to a stronger and more financially empowered generation,” explained Sumarli.
The launch of US options is one step in Ajaib’s broader effort to expand access to global financial products. In August 2026, Ajaib announced a $270 million Series C round from Japan’s SBI Holdings, aiming to strengthen its ability to develop accessible, reliable investment products, expand global market access, and build tools that help more Indonesians invest with confidence.4
The partnership between Ajaib and Alpaca provides a strong foundation for welcoming a new generation of modern investors, helping them get started with confidence and supporting their needs as they grow.
Contact Alpaca
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References:
1. Indonesia Adds Record 9.9 Million Capital-Market Investors Despite Stock Slump, Jakarta Globe, August 10, 2026
2. Indonesian Stock Trading Unicorn Ajaib Raises $270 Million From Japan’s SBI Holdings, Forbes, August 28, 2026
2.3.Online Stock Brokerage Ajaib Becomes Indonesia’s Fastest Unicorn,
4. Ajaib Raih Investasi US$270 Juta dari SBI Holdings, Bukti Kepercayaan Global pada Ekonomi Digital Indonesia, Ajaib, Published August 31, 2026
The content of this blog is for general informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment, legal, tax, regulatory, financial, or other professional advice.
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