Bitcoin Core Dev Raises Concerns Over Deceptive NFT Auction

SNEAK PEEK: 

• Bitcoin developer Luke Dashjr is unhappy about the unauthorized use of his name to sell NFTs.
• The developer refused to accept donations and insisted that 100% of auction earnings be reimbursed.
• Dashjr spoke out for other Bitcoin developers in similar situations and called for greater transparency.

Bitcoin developer Luke Dashjr tweeted his displeasure yesterday at the unauthorized use of his name to sell Non-Fungible tokens. His tweet boasted that a picture of some code he had created had been auctioned off for 41 BTC without his consent.

I want to make public my concern about “NFTs” which are being sold utilizing my name. Recently, a picture of code I wrote was sold at auction for .41 BTC. It was advertised as my code in the listing and presented to the public for sale and profit. 🧵1/9 pic.twitter.com/5TcEJu4p5e

— Luke Dashjr (@LukeDashjr) February 27, 2023

According to Luke, his code was listed in the advertisement as his own and was made available to the public for purchase and profit. Regarding the auction, Luke Dashjr claimed that he had nothing to do with its production or that of other NFTs. 

Further, the matter was compounded when the purported sale winner contacted the developer, assuming they had won an auction for the developer’s code.

Moreover, on Twitter, Luke Dashjr shared a photo showing that the auction site or seller had offered him 90% of the donation, or 0.369 BTC, as a cut of the earnings.

The public should also be aware that the seller and/or auction site offered me a donation of 90% of the auction proceeds “should 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.
4/9 pic.twitter.com/I8jriVuUTp

— Luke Dashjr (@LukeDashjr) February 27, 2023

Nevertheless, the developer declined to acknowledge such a contribution, instead insisting that 100% of the auction earnings be reimbursed to the buyer owing to the deception and genuine buyer misunderstanding.

The programmer also stood up for other Bitcoin engineers who have been in similar scenarios and have been offered donations in exchange for silence.

Luke concluded by saying he disapproved of the vendors’ or auction site’s acts and would do everything he could to mitigate the harm resulting from such deceptive practices.