Artificial intelligence has reached a pivotal moment as it enters what many describe as its uncanny era—one marked by incredible advancements accompanied by unsettling implications. A prime example of this phenomenon is OpenClaw, an innovative open-source AI agent framework that has recently gone viral among developers globally. This framework is part of a broader trend toward creating autonomous, agent-based systems capable of performing complex digital tasks with minimal human intervention, including web browsing and multi-step workflows.
However, the path to success for OpenClaw was not without obstacles. A significant naming dispute alongside a cryptocurrency controversy nearly jeopardized the project. Its creator, Peter Steinberger, has now taken a firm stance against crypto altogether, a remarkable shift from the turmoil caused by scammers exploiting the project’s initial branding efforts.
Originating as “Clawdbot,” OpenClaw was initially aligned with the well-known AI models developed by Anthropic, which features a crab mascot called “Claw’d.” The project gained traction quickly but faced a trademark challenge when Anthropic asserted that the name was too similar to its own Claude models. Acknowledging this issue, Steinberger decided to rebrand, leading to a brief period where the project was called “Moltbot” before finally settling on “OpenClaw.”
In the midst of this rebranding, a troubling incident occurred. Scammers took advantage of the transition, hijacking the old GitHub and X accounts to launch a fraudulent Solana (SOL) token named CLAWD. Remarkably, this token surged to a market capitalization of $16 million within just a few hours. When Steinberger publicly distanced himself from the venture, the token’s value plummeted by more than 90%, leaving many late investors in severe financial loss while early traders benefited.
In the aftermath, Steinberger was inundated with messages from frustrated speculators. He took to X to urge individuals involved in crypto to stop contacting him, emphasizing, “I will never do a coin. Any project that lists me as coin owner is a SCAM.” The CLAWD token, which launched on January 27, has since seen its price drop over 43%, though it experienced a brief recovery of 9.6% in the past 24 hours.
The fallout from the crypto incident has led to significant policy changes within OpenClaw’s community. The project’s Discord server now strictly prohibits any discussions related to cryptocurrency, even in technical references. One user who attempted to mention Bitcoin as a benchmarking tool was promptly removed, highlighting the server’s rigid stance. Steinberger reiterated this policy, stating, “We have strict server rules that you accepted when you entered the server. No crypto mention whatsoever is one of them.”
Despite the controversy surrounding the project, OpenClaw continues to flourish. Recently, Steinberger joined OpenAI to head its personal agents division, further solidifying his commitment to advancing AI technologies while distancing himself from the cryptocurrency world. OpenClaw has fully transitioned to an independent open-source foundation, maintaining its focus on transparency, customization, and collaboration within the development community.
As the project progresses, one thing is clear: discussions involving crypto will remain off-limits, marking a distinct boundary as OpenClaw charts its future in the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence.
