Bitcoin core developer Luke Dashjr criticizes NFT auction site
Luke Dashjr, one of the initial developers of the blockchain technology network Bitcoin, recently criticized an auction website on social media for using his name and code to produce and sell an NFT that he deemed deceptive without his permission.
Core Bitcoin developer’s code NFT sells for $9,500
On Feb. 27, a core Bitcoin developer stated on Twitter that he was not the first developer to have his name or work used in such a manner. He also shared that an auction site sold a non-fungible token (NFT) depicting a picture of his code for 0.41 Bitcoin, which amounts to approximately $9,500.
Dashjr clarified that the NFT listing advertised the code as his and was sold to the public for profit without his involvement. He emphasized that he did not participate in creating or selling this or any other NFTs and did not consent for his code or name to be used for this purpose. Â
He also pointed out that third parties used his name and code to promote their financial interests.
Dashjr declines bribe: Demands refund for misrepresentation
According to Dashjr, the auction winner contacted him, but he had to inform them that he was not involved in the sale. He also claimed that either the seller or the auction site had offered him a donation of 90% of the auction proceeds, which he refused.
He believes this offer was an apparent attempt to bribe him into staying silent or obtain his consent after the fact. Dashjr is warning the public to be aware of these tactics.
The incident reignited the debate around self-custody, which refers to holding one’s crypto assets rather than relying on third-party exchanges or custodians. This debate had already been sparked by the collapse of the crypto exchange FTX, which had led to the loss of millions of dollars worth of crypto assets.
The Dashjr hack highlighted the risks associated with self-custody and raised questions about the safety of popular security methods such as Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) encryption. It also underscored the importance of taking adequate security measures to protect crypto assets, including strong passwords, multi-factor authentication, and hardware wallets.
