OpenClaw Enforces Strict No-Crypto Policy on Discord
The creator of OpenClaw, OpenClaw, has confirmed that users can be removed from the project’s Discord server for mentioning Bitcoin or any other cryptocurrency.
The issue surfaced after a user posted on X claiming they were blocked from the OpenClaw Discord simply for referencing Bitcoin block height as a timing mechanism in a multi-agent benchmark test.
In response, OpenClaw creator Peter Steinberger confirmed the moderation action. He stated that all members agree to “strict server rules” when joining and emphasized that the community operates under a “no crypto mention whatsoever” policy.
Later, Steinberger offered to restore the user’s access, asking them to email their Discord username so he could manually re-add them to the server.
Fake Token Incident Triggered the Crypto Ban
The strict no-crypto rule appears to stem from a previous incident involving a fraudulent token.
During a recent rebrand, Steinberger received a trademark notice related to the project’s original name. In the brief period between releasing the old social media handles and securing new ones, scammers took control of the abandoned accounts. They promoted a Solana-based token called $CLAWD, falsely implying an official connection to the OpenClaw project.
The token’s market capitalization surged to around $16 million within hours before crashing more than 90% after Steinberger publicly denied any involvement. Some early buyers directed blame at the developer despite his clear disavowal.
Steinberger responded firmly, warning users that he would never launch a cryptocurrency and that any token claiming association with him or OpenClaw was fraudulent.
Security researchers later discovered hundreds of exposed OpenClaw instances online, along with dozens of malicious plug-ins. Many of these were reportedly designed to target crypto traders, further reinforcing concerns within the community.
Since launching in late January, OpenClaw has grown rapidly, surpassing 200,000 GitHub stars in just a few weeks. The framework has attracted a large developer base interested in building autonomous AI agents, but the project’s leadership has made it clear that cryptocurrency discussions are not welcome in its official channels.
Meanwhile, parts of the crypto industry remain bullish on AI agents. Companies like Circle and Coinbase have publicly supported the idea that AI agents could use blockchain infrastructure for payments and asset management.
Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire recently predicted that billions of AI agents could use stablecoins for routine transactions in the coming years. Coinbase has also introduced “Agentic Wallets,” a system designed to allow AI agents to hold wallets and autonomously manage crypto activities onchain.
