Australia’s national broadcaster has come under scrutiny after a crypto advocacy group filed a complaint, accusing it of misrepresenting Bitcoin in a recent article. The Australian Bitcoin Industry Body (ABIB) said the report failed to reflect the broader context of Bitcoin’s role and portrayed it using outdated and misleading narratives.
Meanwhile, the ABIB said the article, published by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), focused on crime-related narratives and price volatility while ignoring Bitcoin’s broader use cases. According to the group, this type of framing violates the ABC’s editorial code.
“The article misrepresented Bitcoin’s purpose, conflated it with criminal activity, omitted long-standing publicly available information, and relied on sensational language rather than evidence to inform readers,” the complaint stated.
The advocacy group shared that it has submitted a formal complaint under the broadcaster’s official process and is seeking corrections to several claims in the article. Under ABC’s code, the broadcaster has 60 days to respond. If the ABIB is not satisfied with the response, it can escalate the matter to the Australian Communications and Media Authority.
On-Chain Crime Statistics Cited as Counterpoint
The ABC article claimed Bitcoin is often used by criminals and suggested its relevance is declining in favor of stablecoins. However, the ABIB referenced a report from blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis, which found that just 0.14% of on-chain crypto transactions were linked to criminal activity in 2024.
By contrast, past estimates by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime stated that criminal proceeds in fiat currency represent around 3.6% of global GDP. The ABIB used these figures to question the claim that Bitcoin is primarily used for illegal purposes, arguing the report overlooked this context.
Use as a Store of Value and Adoption Trends Disputed
The article also claimed that Bitcoin has not achieved any of its original goals and is no longer used in meaningful ways. It described Bitcoin as unreliable for legitimate transactions and dismissed its role as a store of value.
In response, the ABIB pointed to increasing institutional adoption. More than 3.7 million Bitcoin—worth over $340 billion—are held by companies, funds, and governments, according to data from BitBo. Major financial institutions, including asset managers like Vanguard, have also opened access to crypto ETFs, suggesting a shift in the traditional finance sector’s approach to digital assets.
Crypto Lobby Calls for Responsible Coverage
The ABIB said the article’s tone contributes to ongoing misperceptions about Bitcoin, especially among the general public. It noted that people regularly reach out to the group with concerns about inaccurate reporting on the topic.
“Bitcoin deserves informed, responsible coverage, not dismissal through outdated narratives,” the group said in a public statement.
Research from Perception, a market data firm, found that 28% of crypto coverage across major mainstream media outlets in Q2 was negative, with only 31% being positive. The ABIB said the industry continues to face challenges in securing accurate and fair representation in public discourse.
