Australian crypto lobby files complaint against ABC over Bitcoin article

The Australian Bitcoin Industry Body (ABIB) has lodged a formal complaint against the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, alleging a recent article contained misrepresentations and factual errors about Bitcoin.

The crypto industry group claims the ABC article portrayed Bitcoin as primarily a criminal tool and ignored its benefits for energy grids and humanitarian purposes. ABIB argued the piece relied on "sensational language rather than evidence" and violated the broadcaster's editorial policies through "one-sided framing."

The complaint challenges several claims in the article, including assertions that Bitcoin has no practical purpose and is rarely used in legitimate transactions. ABIB cited data showing only 0.14% of onchain transaction volume in 2024 was linked to criminal activity, compared to an estimated 3.6% of global GDP from criminal proceeds using fiat currency.

The industry body also pointed to growing institutional adoption, with publicly traded companies, ETFs, and countries now holding over 3.7 million Bitcoin worth more than $341 billion.

Under ABC's code of practice, the broadcaster has 60 days to respond to the complaint. ABIB stated that public inquiries about Bitcoin misrepresentation in Australian media, particularly from publicly funded institutions, are frequent.