OpenClaw AI Agent Framework Bans All Bitcoin and Crypto Talk on Discord After Token Scam

The developer behind OpenClaw, a rapidly growing open-source AI agent framework, has confirmed a blanket ban on any mention of Bitcoin or cryptocurrencies on its Discord server, a policy triggered by a fake token incident that preceded the ban.

Peter Steinberger, creator of OpenClaw, confirmed on Saturday that users can be removed from the project’s Discord server simply for mentioning Bitcoin or other digital assets, even in technical contexts. The confirmation came after a user reported being blocked for referencing Bitcoin block height as a timing mechanism in a multi-agent benchmark discussion.

“Members accepted strict server rules when joining,” Steinberger wrote in an X post, adding that the community maintains a “no crypto mention whatsoever” policy. He later agreed to restore the user’s access, asking them to email their username for reinstatement.

The strict cryptocurrency ban stems from a chaotic incident during OpenClaw’s recent rebranding. After Steinberger received a trademark notice related to the project’s original name, scammers exploited the brief window between abandoning old social media accounts and claiming new ones.

The attackers seized the abandoned handles and promoted a fraudulent Solana-based token called $CLAWD. The token’s market capitalization surged to approximately $16 million within hours before crashing more than 90% after Steinberger publicly denied any involvement. Early buyers of the token accused the developer of orchestrating a scam.

Steinberger responded to the accusations by warning users he would never launch a cryptocurrency and that any token claiming association with him or OpenClaw was fraudulent. The incident prompted the comprehensive ban on all cryptocurrency discussions within the project’s community spaces.

Security researchers later discovered hundreds of exposed OpenClaw instances online, along with dozens of malicious plug-ins. Many of these malicious tools were specifically designed to target cryptocurrency traders, adding another layer of concern about the intersection of the AI agent framework and the crypto community.

Despite the cryptocurrency controversy, OpenClaw has experienced explosive growth since its late January launch. The project has surpassed 200,000 GitHub stars within weeks, attracting a substantial developer audience interested in building autonomous agents.

The ban highlights growing tensions between AI development communities and cryptocurrency enthusiasts, even as major industry players increasingly view blockchain technology as essential infrastructure for AI agents. Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire recently predicted that billions of AI agents will use stablecoins for routine payments within the next few years.

Earlier this month, Coinbase launched “Agentic Wallets” infrastructure that enables AI agents to hold wallets and autonomously spend, earn and trade cryptocurrency onchain. The system, built on Coinbase’s AgentKit developer framework and powered by the x402 payments protocol, allows software agents to actively manage decentralized finance positions, rebalance portfolios, pay for compute and data services, and participate in digital marketplaces.

The OpenClaw situation demonstrates the challenges facing AI projects that attract both legitimate developers and bad actors seeking to exploit emerging technologies for financial gain. The strict no-crypto policy represents an attempt to distance the project from scammers and protect its reputation, though it also excludes potentially legitimate technical discussions about blockchain integration with AI systems.

As AI agent frameworks continue to evolve, the question of how they interact with cryptocurrency payment systems remains contentious. While some projects embrace crypto as a natural payment rail for autonomous agents, others like OpenClaw are choosing to avoid the space entirely, at least within their official community channels.

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OpenClaw AI Agent Framework Bans All Bitcoin and Crypto Talk on Discord After Token Scam