Crypto Group Challenges Aussie Broadcast Corp, Citing Factual Errors In Bitcoin Coverage

A major Australian crypto industry group has lodged a formal complaint with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, arguing that recent coverage of Bitcoin contained multiple errors and a biased tone.

According to the industry group, the broadcaster presented a one-sided view that overemphasized criminal usage and volatility while leaving out legitimate uses and data.

ABIB Calls For Corrections And Response Within 60 Days

Based on reports, the Australian Bitcoin Industry Body (ABIB) says it asked ABC to correct specific statements it considers false or misleading, and to publish clarifications. The complaint was made public on December 3, 2025, and ABIB posted about the filing on social media.

The complainants singled out passages that they say described Bitcoin largely as a tool for criminals and painted it as having little or no legitimate use. They pointed to sections that, in their view, ignored examples of Bitcoin being used for grid balancing and for humanitarian transfers.

ABC Coverage Focused On Money-Laundering Concerns

Reports have disclosed that ABC ran pieces discussing the changing role of Bitcoin in illicit flows, including a recent story that examined whether Bitcoin is losing ground to stablecoins such as Tether when used in money-laundering. That report drew particular ire from ABIB.

ABIB has argued that some context and figures were omitted from ABC’s coverage. One outlet summarized ABIB’s broader claim that media depiction was skewed at a time when adoption figures — sometimes cited at about 31% nationally in related coverage — should also be part of the public debate.

If ABC does not satisfy ABIB’s complaint within 60 days, the matter could be escalated to Australia’s communications regulator for review. That regulator can investigate whether editorial standards were breached and recommend corrective action or other remedies.

Some newsrooms say robust coverage of risks is their duty. Others in the crypto sector argue that balanced reporting should include both harms and legitimate uses. The dispute highlights tensions as regulators, media and industry all jockey to shape public understanding while new rules for crypto take form.

Reports show ABC has recently run several finance and crypto pieces, including coverage of price moves and policy debates. One ABC item referenced US President Donald Trump in its discussion of political moves that have touched crypto policy. That inclusion was noted in pushback from industry groups.

According to ABIB, the aim is not to silence scrutiny but to ensure facts are correct for readers and for policymakers. The group says accurate public reporting matters because it can shape future regulation and public trust. Multiple news outlets have covered ABIB’s action and quoted its request that ABC publish corrections where errors are found.

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