The developer behind the rapidly growing open-source AI agent framework OpenClaw has confirmed a strict policy banning all discussion of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies on its official Discord server. The rule came to light after a user, known on X as @blockapunk, was blocked from the server for referencing Bitcoin block height as a timing mechanism in a technical discussion about a multi-agent benchmark called CLASHD27.
In a response on X, OpenClaw creator Peter Steinberger (known as @steipete) defended the action, stating that members accept "strict server rules" upon joining and that the community maintains a "no crypto mention whatsoever" policy. He later agreed to re-add the user after a public exchange, asking them to email their username to restore access.
The incident sparked wider debate online, with commentators like @coinbureau noting the rule is intended to keep conversations focused on AI development and away from finance or trading chatter. Some in the Bitcoin community, such as user @Pummelpaffpaff, argued that "Bitcoin is not crypto," highlighting a philosophical divide.
This policy stems from a prior incident where scammers exploited a rebranding window to promote a fraudulent Solana-based token called $CLAWD. The token briefly surged to a ~$16 million market cap before collapsing over 90% after Steinberger publicly denied any involvement. He has since repeatedly warned that any token claiming association with him or OpenClaw is fraudulent.
Despite the controversy, OpenClaw has seen explosive growth since its late January launch, surpassing 200,000 GitHub stars within weeks. The news contrasts with a broader industry trend where crypto firms are increasingly bullish on AI integration. Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire has predicted billions of agents will use stablecoins for payments, and Coinbase recently launched "Agentic Wallets" infrastructure enabling AI agents to autonomously manage crypto assets.
