No Crypto Talk in the OpenClaw Discord

Peter Steinberger, the creator of the AI agent tool OpenClaw, has imposed a strict rule banning any mention of Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies in his community chat. The decision came after a user was blocked from the Discord server for discussing crypto topics.

“Please stop pinging me and harassing me. I will never do a coin. Any project that lists me as coin owner is a scam.”
— Steinberger, January

Steinberger reminded members that they had agreed to strict rules upon joining, including a clause that prohibits “any crypto mention at all.” Some community members reported that even neutral references to Bitcoin triggered moderation. The ban followed warnings about scammers exploiting the project’s popularity and harassment linked to cryptocurrency discussions.

Background: From Open-Source Framework to Spam Flood

OpenClaw began as an open‑source framework for building AI agents that can perform tasks automatically. As the tool gained traction, Steinberger received a deluge of spam from crypto enthusiasts eager to link the project with digital money. In an interview, he noted that the spam “drowned out normal conversation about the software.”

Community Reaction

While some members urged a more relaxed stance, Steinberger emphasized that his focus remains on the project’s technical goals rather than finance. He recently joined OpenAI and announced that OpenClaw would transition to a foundation model, hoping the partnership will accelerate its reach.

Debates and Connections

The strict crypto policy has sparked debate, especially given OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s involvement with the Worldcoin identity platform that issues a crypto token to users. There is no public link between Steinberger’s Discord rule and Altman’s ventures, but the move raises questions about whether AI tools should engage with cryptocurrency use cases.