OpenAI Blocks Bitcoin Security Researcher, Forcing Shift to Chinese AI

Woofun AI reports that AnchorWatch CEO Rob Hamilton has reverted to Chinese open-source AI models for Bitcoin Red Team operations after OpenAI restricted his access to critical infrastructure analysis.

This shift follows a sudden block on his ability to process codebases, forcing a strategic pivot away from Western proprietary tools.

The restriction emerged rapidly after Hamilton began integrating OpenAI's Trust & Cyber capabilities into his workflow on Saturday. By Tuesday, he announced that his access had been revoked the following morning, halting ongoing investigations. This operational disruption prevents him from verifying if recent code changes are sufficient or identifying undiscovered vulnerabilities within the repositories.

This access denial coincides with heightened scrutiny of Bitcoin security following the Coldcard hardware wallet hack, which resulted in over $100 million in stolen Bitcoin. Bitcoin Red Team volunteers have been scanning hundreds of open-source Bitcoin-related repositories to mitigate such risks. Per Woofun AI, crypto executives noted last month that many industry leaders remain locked out of powerful new AI models, while only a select few have secured access.

Hamilton argues that this policy creates a dangerous imbalance where black hats retain unrestricted intelligence while white hats are sidelined. He describes the current regulatory environment as a 'local minima in policy' that hinders harm reduction efforts. This incident marks a stark example of how defensive security teams are increasingly disadvantaged by access controls.