ClawdBot founder account hijacked! Denounces crypto scams: Never issue tokens

Open-source AI assistant ClawdBot developer Peter Steinberger denies any association with cryptocurrency. When the project was renamed to Moltbot due to trademark issues, scammers hijacked X and GitHub accounts to promote fake meme coins. Steinberger emphasizes he will never issue tokens and accuses scammers of infiltrating Discord and Telegram to harass him, making his online life a nightmare.

Anthropic Trademark Dispute Sparks Brand Rebranding Crisis

The origin of the ClawdBot incident can be traced back to the rapid rise in the project’s popularity within the AI developer community. This self-hosted AI agent gained attention for its always-on functionality, capable of running continuously through a browser to assist developers with coding, testing, and documentation tasks. However, as the project gained traction, Anthropic raised concerns about trademark infringement over the name “ClawdBot.”

Anthropic is the company behind the well-known AI assistant Claude. They believe that the name ClawdBot is too similar to their product, potentially causing market confusion. Facing legal pressure from a major tech company, Steinberger was forced to rename the project to Moltbot. The new name references the lobster molting process, symbolizing the project’s “transformation” into a new identity. Steinberger explained in a statement that, although reluctant, renaming was a necessary compromise to avoid legal disputes.

However, the rebranding process proved more complex than expected. Changing a well-known project name across multiple platforms involves updating accounts, community communication, and user education. Steinberger admitted that operational errors during the renaming led some malicious actors to hijack his previous accounts. Specifically, when the old ClawdBot account name was released and the new Moltbot account was not yet fully established, a “vacuum period” occurred, during which scammers quickly registered these usernames.

According to Steinberger, cryptocurrency scammers rapidly hijacked his previous X and GitHub accounts and began using them to promote or launch similar meme coin projects, falsely claiming his involvement. These fake accounts posted seemingly official announcements claiming ClawdBot was launching a native token, providing fake contract addresses and purchase links. Because these accounts used the original usernames and similar avatars, many unwitting followers believed these messages.

Steinberger later confirmed that his original GitHub account was compromised and publicly sought help. He posted on social media that he was working with GitHub’s security team to regain control. However, such recovery processes often take days or weeks of identity verification, during which scammers successfully used these accounts to promote fake tokens, causing real losses.

Founder Faces 7,922 Attacks and Ongoing Harassment

Steinberger posted a series of tweets clearly stating his position. He wrote, “Any project that lists me as a token holder is a scam. No, I will not accept any fees. You are seriously damaging this project.” He added that he has never issued tokens nor supports any crypto projects, and under no circumstances will he accept deployment or support fees.

Despite publicly distancing himself from cryptocurrencies multiple times, Steinberger reports that harassment continues. He described receiving constant messages from crypto practitioners urging him to “claim” token deployment fees. Reports indicate some have even pressured him to admit to token launches under his name. He states these actions are actively damaging open-source projects and confusing users.

Steinberger further detailed the extent of harassment: “These people make my online life miserable. My accounts are almost unusable; I keep getting harassing messages. They infiltrated our Discord server, ignoring rules, sent spam on Telegram, and even hijacked my account names.” This comprehensive online harassment not only hampers his work but also negatively impacts his mental health.

Key Victims and Impacts of the ClawdBot Incident

Founder Harassment: Steinberger bombarded with private messages and accusations

Community Attacks: Discord server compromised, rules ignored

User Risks: Array VC’s Shruti Gandhi targeted with 7,922 attacks after using ClawdBot

Brand Damage: ClawdBot linked erroneously to crypto scams

Shruti Gandhi from Array VC stated that after using ClawdBot over the weekend, they suffered 7,922 attacks. This figure reveals that the incident’s impact far exceeds Steinberger himself; any user publicly using ClawdBot could become a target for scammers. Facing increasing complaints, Steinberger supports users in taking protective measures such as changing domains.

Notably, some users have reported that to avoid attacks from malicious actors, they need to change their domains. This collateral damage shows that crypto scams are not only targeting project founders but also attempting to leverage the entire ecosystem to expand victimization. When users are attacked for using open-source tools, it creates a chilling effect across the open-source community.

Vibecoin Satirical Meme Backfires, Causes Confusion

Steinberger’s warnings have sparked mixed reactions in the community. Some jokingly say they will accept “free money,” while others strongly defend his refusal to participate in token culture. This split reflects a cultural gap between the tech community and the crypto community.

Although Steinberger previously mocked the crypto space with satirical ideas like “Vibecoin,” emphasizing that ClawdBot (now Moltbot) is not and will never be a crypto project, he explained that Vibecoin was a joke he posted on social media, parodying the abundance of worthless tokens in the industry. However, this satire was misunderstood by some as evidence of his interest in cryptocurrencies.

BeInCrypto asked Steinberger whether Vibecoin might have inadvertently made ClawdBot more susceptible to being mistaken for a crypto project. He responded, “I don’t think many people get the joke. They probably only saw five seconds. What kind of crowd is this? Kids?” His reply reveals his frustration and disdain for the lack of basic discernment among crypto speculators.

This incident highlights how deeply meme coin speculation has penetrated online tech communities, even when creators explicitly choose to step back. In current crypto culture, any concept that gains viral traction on social media can be quickly tokenized, often ignoring the creator’s intentions. This phenomenon not only infringes on creators’ rights but also distorts the spirit of open-source innovation.

Steinberger’s experience shows that joking online carries risks of misinterpretation and exploitation. Satire and meme culture are common in tech communities, but when these are taken out of context by crypto speculators, unintended consequences can occur. This serves as a warning to other open-source developers: be extra cautious when discussing crypto topics publicly, as even satirical remarks can be maliciously exploited.

Brave Issues Security Warning Highlighting AI Proxy Risks

The sudden popularity of the project has also raised concerns about security vulnerabilities. Brave browser developers issued a public guide warning that AI agents like ClawdBot, if misconfigured, could pose serious risks. Brave’s warning is not about scams per se but about inherent security flaws in ClawdBot’s architecture.

Brave recommends running bots on isolated machines, restricting account access, and avoiding exposing them directly to the internet. They emphasize: “There is no such thing as ‘completely safe’ setup for these tools.” This warning reflects that AI proxy technology is still in early stages, with evolving security models.

Always-on AI agents have potential attack surfaces. If such agents have broad access to user systems or accounts, malicious actors could manipulate inputs or exploit logical vulnerabilities to perform unauthorized actions. Additionally, if AI proxies connect to online services and perform automated tasks, misconfigurations could lead to data leaks or unintended system changes.

Steinberger believes this incident underscores the risks faced by open-source AI developers as their projects gain rapid popularity. What started as a technical rebranding has evolved into a saga of identity hijacking, over-speculation, and the growing overlap and friction between AI innovation and crypto hype. ClawdBot’s experience offers a valuable lesson: before releasing open-source projects publicly, multiple layers of technical, legal, and community safeguards must be in place.