- Updated: March 24, 2026
- 2 min read
The Evolution of Our Project Name: From Clawd.bot to Moltbot to OpenClaw
The Evolution of Our Project Name
When the project first started, we called it Clawd.bot. The name reflected the early, experimental nature of the bot that could “claw” at data and automate simple tasks. As the community grew and the codebase matured, we realized the name no longer captured the broader vision we were aiming for. We re‑branded to Moltbot, symbolising a stage of growth and transformation – the bot was molting its old skin and gaining new capabilities.
In the latest major release we have settled on the official name OpenClaw. This name combines the openness of the project (open‑source, open standards) with the original “claw” metaphor that still represents the tool’s ability to grasp and manipulate data across many platforms. The change was driven by three main reasons:
- Clarity: OpenClaw instantly conveys that the project is open‑source and focuses on powerful data‑handling features.
- Continuity: We kept the “claw” element to reassure existing users that the core functionality they rely on remains unchanged.
- Future‑proofing: The new name gives us room to expand beyond a simple bot into a full‑featured automation platform.
For our legacy users, rest assured: the underlying engine, the community, and the commitment to quality remain exactly the same. All your existing configurations, scripts, and integrations will continue to work without modification.
The latest OpenClaw release brings a host of benefits:
- Improved performance and lower resource consumption.
- New modular plugins that let you extend functionality with ease.
- Enhanced security features, including role‑based access control.
- Better documentation and a more intuitive UI.
Ready to try the new OpenClaw? Learn how to host OpenClaw on UBOS and get started today.
Thank you for being part of this journey. We look forward to building the next chapters together under the OpenClaw banner.