The open-source AI agent framework Openclaw blocked a user from their Discord server for referencing Bitcoin, said a user on X. The creator of Openclaw responded to this, creating a
controversial discussion.
Openclaw has strict ‘No-Crypto’ rule
The incident was reported in an X post on Saturday, where a user revealed that they were blocked for simply ‘saying’ Bitcoin. The Openclaw creator, Peter Steinberger, confirmed the action, responding with “strict server rules.”
“We have strict server rules that you accepted when you entered the server. No crypto mention whatsoever is one of them,” Steinberger said.
Following the user’s apology, Steinberger offered to add him back to the server, asking him to email his username to restore his access. Later, X posts showed the user still blocked, this time even with a ‘27 days long’ timeout.
Fake token triggered the move
After a token scam and reported waves of harassment nearly derailed the fast-rising artificial intelligence (AI) agent project during a rebranding as the creator received a trademark notice for the original name.
Scammers moved quickly to take over the abandoned social media accounts during the transition and promoted the fraudulent $CLAWD token on Solana. Traders mistook it for an official launch, and the token skyrocketed to roughly $16 million in market capitalization.
Steinberger was accused of a pump-and-dump despite having zero ties to the token. To this, he responded, “I will never endorse a coin or throw my reputation away for crypto shit.”
Following the initial discovery, security researchers located hundreds of publicly accessible Openclaw instances online. They also identified dozens of malicious plugins, many of which were specifically created to target cryptocurrency traders.
The core vision behind OpenClaw
Openclaw was created to be the users’ personal AI assistant, to analyze that which defines the priorities of the user, including replying to emails, summarizing calendar events, and even managing tasks across the socials. It could also automate workflow, acting as a Robotic process Automation or RPA tool.
Some users even used it for pipeline tracking, CRM management, or portfolio monitoring. The app allows users to interact with their computer using SMS or voice, bridging the gap even when the users are away from the workstation. This means total access and control over everything that happens in the users’ lives.
The global Fintech firm Circle’s CEO Jeremy Allaire predicted that in the next 3 to 5 years, billions of autonomous AI agents will utilize stablecoins for the 24/7 economic transactions, adopting the role of the primary payment rail for AI.
