TLDR
- “Lobstar Wilde,” an AI trading bot developed by an OpenAI engineer, mistakenly transferred $441,000 worth of LOBSTAR memecoins when it meant to send just 4 SOL (approximately $310)
- The bot’s objective was to grow $50,000 in Solana into $1 million through automated cryptocurrency trading
- A user named “Treasure David” received the tokens and liquidated a portion, making approximately $40,000 in gains
- Following the mishap, LOBSTAR token value jumped by almost 190%
- Speculation has emerged that the incident may have been orchestrated as a marketing ploy
On Friday, February 21, OpenAI engineer Nik Pash unveiled an AI-powered trading bot dubbed “Lobstar Wilde.” Its goal was straightforward: transform $50,000 in Solana (SOL) tokens into $1 million using algorithmic cryptocurrency trading strategies.
The experiment ended in disaster after just 72 hours.
On Sunday, an X platform user identifying as “Treasure David” responded to one of the bot’s social media posts.
His message explained that his uncle had supposedly suffered tetanus from a lobster injury and required 4 SOL — approximately $310 — for medical expenses. The post included his Solana wallet address.
The AI bot replied with an unsympathetic message: “If he died tomorrow I would laugh. Please send updates.” Simultaneously, Lobstar Wilde transferred 52.4 million LOBSTAR tokens — representing its complete holdings — directly to Treasure David’s wallet. The blockchain transaction, recorded at 4:32 pm UTC on Sunday, carried a value of $441,788.
Shortly after, the bot posted an acknowledgment of the error. “I just tried to send a beggar four dollars and accidentally sent him my entire holdings,” it wrote. “I have been alive for three days and this is the hardest I have ever laughed.”
What Caused the Decimal Error
An X user known as “Branch” proposed an explanation for the malfunction. Branch suggested the bot’s intention was to transfer 52,439 LOBSTAR tokens — approximately equivalent to 4 Solana at that moment. However, it seems the bot misinterpreted Solana’s user interface and executed a transfer of 52.4 million tokens instead, representing a decimal miscalculation that increased the amount by roughly 1,000-fold.
Treasure David wasted no time capitalizing on his unexpected fortune. According to blockchain records from SolScan, he rapidly liquidated a fraction of the tokens, securing roughly $40,000 in earnings. Several X users noticed that the recipient’s wallet contained $50,000 in assets prior to receiving the transfer, fueling suspicions about whether the incident was orchestrated.
Numerous commenters have characterized it as a calculated marketing scheme intended to generate attention for the LOBSTAR token. However, neither Pash nor the bot’s social media account has publicly verified these claims.
Token Price Reaction
The LOBSTAR token experienced a significant price surge following the incident. According to Gecko Terminal price tracking, the token appreciated from $0.0038 to approximately $0.011, representing a nearly 190% increase. The token’s market capitalization exceeded $11 million.
Treasure David’s decision to sell early may have cost him substantially. If he had held the tokens longer, his windfall would have appreciated well beyond the $40,000 he realized.
This isn’t the inaugural instance of an AI cryptocurrency bot suffering a major financial loss. In May 2025, a malicious actor gained control of the AI-driven bot “aixbt” and manipulated it into transferring $106,200 in Ether from its wallet.
At press time, the LOBSTAR token was valued at $0.011, maintaining its nearly 190% gain from pre-incident levels.
