AI bot's tipping blunder hands $250,000 memecoin pile to X sad story poster

CoinDesk

by Omkar Godbole

February 23, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

AI trading bot "Lobstar Wilde" made a shocking error by accidentally sending $250,000 worth of LOBSTAR tokens to an X user who had requested 4 SOL for their uncle's medical treatment. The incident occurred when the bot, created by OpenAI engineer Nick Pash, intended to tip the user but instead transferred its entire memecoin stash, valued at around $450,000 or 5% of the token's total supply. The recipient, known as "treasure David," quickly sold the tokens for a profit of approximately $40,000. The story highlights the vulnerabilities in AI systems, which, despite their advanced capabilities, can still make human-like mistakes. Pash admitted to the error, humorously describing it as the hardest laugh he had since creating the bot. The bot's creator aimed to grow $50,000 worth of SOL tokens into $1 million through crypto trades but instead faced a significant setback due to the accidental transfer. The incident has sparked debates about whether it was a genuine mistake or a publicity stunt to boost the Lobstar token's fame and price. Some X users pointed out that the recipient sold the tokens swiftly, transferring the funds to another wallet that already held $50,000. Regardless of intent, the event led to a 32% surge in LOBSTAR's value, pushing its market cap above $11 million. This story underscores the unpredictable nature of crypto markets and the potential for AI tools to introduce new risks. While AI can optimize trading strategies, it remains susceptible to errors that could have significant financial consequences. The case also raises questions about the reliability of automated systems in managing cryptocurrency transactions and their impact on market dynamics.

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Originally published on CoinDesk on 2/23/2026