BTC news: Mentioning 'bitcoin' on AI agent OpenClaw's Discord will get you banned

CoinDesk

by Shaurya Malwa

February 22, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

The creator of OpenClaw, an AI agent framework, has banned mentions of 'bitcoin' or other crypto-related terms on its Discord server to prevent spam and shilling. This strict rule stems from a series of challenges faced by Peter Steinberger, including scammers hijacking his accounts and promoting a fake token ($CLAWD) that surged to $16 million in market cap. The incident occurred after Steinberger rebranded the project following a trademark dispute with Anthropic, during which scammers exploited his unsecured old accounts. The turmoil began when crypto traders accused Steinberger of endorsing the fake token, leading to significant financial losses for late investors and overwhelming him with harassment. Steinberger emphasized that he had no involvement in any crypto projects and urged crypto enthusiasts to cease contacting him. Security audits later revealed vulnerabilities in OpenClaw instances and malicious scripts targeting crypto users, further complicating the situation. Despite these hurdles, Steinberger continues his work at OpenAI, now leading their personal agents division, while OpenClaw operates under an independent foundation. The Discord ban remains a precautionary measure against potential misuse, reflecting the broader risks of crypto-related scams in AI projects. This episode highlights how quickly speculative token culture can disrupt legitimate software initiatives and underscores the importance of vigilance in safeguarding against such manipulations. For those interested in crypto and AI, this story illustrates the critical need for due diligence and robust security measures to protect against exploitation by malicious actors. It serves as a cautionary tale about the interplay between innovative technologies and the potential for abuse in financial markets.

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Originally published on CoinDesk on 2/22/2026