The Australian Bitcoin Industry Body (ABIB) has lodged a formal complaint against the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), accusing it of publishing an article that misrepresented Bitcoin and violated its editorial standards. ABIB alleges the report perpetuated outdated narratives and contained factual inaccuracies, presenting Bitcoin as solely a volatile asset utilized by criminals while neglecting humanitarian, energy-grid, and financial-inclusion applications. The complaint cites ABC’s reliance on sensational language over evidence, dismissal of publicly available data, and conflation of Bitcoin with broader illicit activity. ABIB further asserts that the report misrepresented Bitcoin’s connection to criminal activity, citing data showing just 0.14% of crypto transactions in 2024 were linked to such activities, compared to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime’s estimate of 3.6% of global GDP flowing through illicit fiat systems. The ABIB argues that the report’s assertions about Bitcoin’s lack of legitimacy, failed objectives, and inability as a reliable store of value are contradicted by global adoption trends. The ABC has been given 60 days to respond to the complaint or face potential escalation by Australia’s media regulator, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). This incident comes amidst ongoing efforts to regulate the crypto industry in Australia with new legislation aimed at bringing crypto platforms under existing financial services regulations.