Bitcoin core dev calls ‘misleading’ auction selling his code as an NFT

One of the original core developers behind Bitcoin (BTC), Luke Dashjr, has taken to social media to call out an auction site that has used his name and code without his consent to create and sell a “misleading” NFT.

The core developer said he has not been the first Bitcoin developer to have his name or work used in this way.

In a February 27 post on Twitter, the developer revealed that a non-fungible token (NFT), with an image of the code he wrote, was sold on the auction site for 0.41 Bitcoin (BTC), or about $9,500 at the time of writing.

“It was advertised as my code in the listing and presented to the public for sales and profit,” Dashjr explained.

“Let me be clear – I was not involved in the creation and sale of this or any other NFTs. I did not consent to the use of my code or my name for this purpose. Instead, third parties market my name and my code. for their own financial gain,” he added.

Dashjr revealed that the winner of the auction eventually contacted him and he had to inform them that he was not involved in the sale.

Dashjr claims that an individual – either the seller or the auction site – had contacted him and offered him “a donation of 90% of the auction proceeds,” which he declined.

“The public should also be aware that the seller and/or auction site offered me a donation of 90% of the auction proceeds ‘if I choose to accept’ it. I feel this is a clear attempt to: (1) bribe me into silence; and/or (2) obtain my consent after the fact,” he explained, adding:

“I will not accept such payment at the expense of the public being misled. I will not accept any such ‘donation’.”

“Due to the misrepresentation involved and actual buyer confusion, I strongly insist that 100% of the auction proceeds be refunded to the buyer,” Dashjr said.

According to Dashjr, “other Bitcoin developers” have been placed in similar situations and offered “significant” donations for their cooperation; however, he did not provide any specific details.

“Stop using my name to mislead the public so you can make a quick buck. It’s wrong,” Dashjr said.

“I do not consent to the use of my name or code for this abuse. I want the public to be aware of where I stand,” he added.

Related: Navigating the Crypto World: Tips to Avoid Scams

Early last year, decentralized marketplace OpenSea reported that over 80% of NFTs embossed using the embossing tool were “plagiarized works, fake compilations and spam.”

Dashjr was reportedly the unfortunate victim of a hack on the last day of 2022 that lost him “basically” all of his BTC.

Hackers gained access to his Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) key, a common security method that uses two keys to access encrypted information.

The news sparked a debate around self-storage, which became a hot topic after the collapse of the crypto exchange FTX.