OpenClaw, the fast-growing open-source AI agent project created by Peter Steinberger, is enforcing a strict rule in its Discord community that can result in users being removed for mentioning bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies. The policy drew attention after a user said they were blocked for referencing Bitcoin block height in a technical benchmarking context.
Steinberger publicly confirmed the moderation approach, saying the server operates under “strict” rules and includes a blanket prohibition on crypto discussion. He later indicated he was willing to restore the user’s access, while maintaining the broader no-crypto policy.
Steinberger himself, has announced that he has joined the team at OpenAI, stating that, “I’m joining OpenAI to work on bringing agents to everyone. OpenClaw will move to a foundation and stay open and independent.”
The rule appears to be a response to a January rebranding incident that exposed the project to crypto-related scams. During the transition from an earlier name to OpenClaw, scammers reportedly seized abandoned social handles and promoted a Solana-based token, $CLAWD, as if it were connected to the project.
The token briefly reached about $16 million in market capitalization before dropping more than 90% after Steinberger denied any involvement. Steinberger has since warned users that he would not launch a cryptocurrency and that any token claiming affiliation was fraudulent.
Users can’t mention Bitcoin or Crypto at all in the OpenClaw Discord, Source: X
OpenClaw’s rapid growth has increased the stakes around community moderation and brand misuse. The project’s GitHub repository currently shows roughly 218,000 stars and more than 41,000 forks, underscoring how quickly it has attracted developer attention.
OpenClaw was formally introduced under its current name on January 29, 2026, after earlier naming changes tied in part to trademark concerns. In that announcement, Steinberger described the project as a local-first, open agent platform that works across mainstream messaging apps including WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord and Slack.
The episode highlights a broader tension emerging across AI infrastructure projects: viral adoption can attract speculative activity long before teams are prepared to manage brand impersonation, token copycats, and cross-community moderation risks. In OpenClaw’s case, the response has been to draw a hard line inside official channels.
Source: https://bravenewcoin.com/insights/openclaw-enforces-discord-ban-on-crypto-mentions-after-scam-fallout
