OpenClaw's Discord Now Enforces Zero-Crypto Rule
Peter Steinberger, the creator of the viral AI agent framework OpenClaw, has confirmed a strict ban on any mention of Bitcoin or cryptocurrency in the project's Discord server. This policy comes as Steinberger begins working at OpenAI, sparking discussions about the intersection of AI and crypto communities.
Why the Ban Was Implemented
Steinberger explained that the decision was driven by persistent harassment from token promoters and scammers who tried to profit from OpenClaw's popularity. In a recent interview on the Lex Fridman podcast, he described how the crypto community "swarmed" the Discord server:
"Every half hour, someone came into Discord and spammed it, and we had to block people."
He added that the spam became so overwhelming that he "could barely see people talking about the project because it was like swarms."
The Backstory of Harassment
Earlier this year, Steinberger publicly addressed the issue on X, stating:
"To all crypto folks: Please stop pinging me, stop harassing me. I will never do a coin. Any project that lists me as coin owner is a SCAM."
Users reported that even neutral references to Bitcoin led to moderation actions on the Discord server. The policy appears absolute—"No crypto mention whatsoever" is now a server rule that all members must accept upon joining.
OpenClaw's Meteoric Rise
OpenClaw (originally called Clawdbot) gained rapid attention as an open-source framework for building AI agents—software designed to perform tasks autonomously. The project skyrocketed to approximately 147,000 GitHub stars in just weeks, fueling both genuine interest and opportunistic behavior.
The OpenAI Connection
Last week, Steinberger announced he had joined OpenAI to lead their push into personal AI agents. In a blog post, he explained:
"What I want is to change the world, not build a large company, and teaming up with OpenAI is the fastest way to bring this to everyone."
He also revealed that OpenClaw would transition to a foundation-run open-source project.
Community Reactions and Questions
Some X users questioned how Steinberger's zero-crypto policy aligns with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's involvement with Worldcoin, a digital identity network that issues crypto tokens. Others argued that cryptocurrency represents the best use case for AI agents like OpenClaw, with one user asking:
"What are all these AI agents going to make payments with? You building open-sourced decentralized networks on Visa rails?"
Despite these concerns, Steinberger maintains that the Discord server is "a space about the project, not finance stuff." The ban appears to be his personal policy rather than an OpenAI directive, though the timing of his new role has fueled speculation about potential tensions between AI development and cryptocurrency integration.
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