Bitcoin Red Team founder turns to Chinese AI: ‘It absolutely guts me’
Reported by Cointelegraph · AI-assisted summary by ChikoCorp AI News Desk
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Summary
Rob Hamilton, CEO of AnchorWatch and founder of Bitcoin Red Team, announced he is returning to use open-source Chinese AI models after OpenAI restricted his access to their AI tools. Hamilton has been using OpenAI’s capabilities to analyze Bitcoin-related codebases for vulnerabilities but was prevented from continuing his investigations. Bitcoin Red Team volunteers use AI and manual reviews to detect security issues in Bitcoin infrastructure.
Why it matters
The source highlights concerns that the most advanced AI tools are not being made accessible to security researchers working to defend crypto systems. This restricted access potentially limits white hats’ ability to identify vulnerabilities, while malicious actors (“black hats”) may operate without similar constraints. The issue raises questions about how AI policy impacts cyber defense in the crypto industry.
Key context
Bitcoin Red Team accelerated its vulnerability scanning efforts after a hack of the Coldcard hardware wallet resulted in over $100 million in Bitcoin theft. Last month, crypto executives told Cointelegraph that many leading crypto firms are still awaiting access to powerful AI models, with only a select few having received it. Hamilton described the policy environment as a “local minima” that favors unrestricted intelligence for malicious actors while limiting harm reduction efforts.
Key numbers and entities
Mentioned entities include Rob Hamilton (AnchorWatch CEO), Bitcoin Red Team (a volunteer group), OpenAI, and Coldcard hardware wallet. The hack involved more than $100 million in Bitcoin stolen. No stock tickers or additional numbers were provided.
What remains unclear
The source does not specify the exact reasons for OpenAI’s access restriction or how widespread such limitations are among other security researchers. It also does not clarify which Chinese open-source AI models Hamilton will use.