From WhatsApp Relay to Production Platform: The Complete Story and Setup Tutorial

OpenClaw (formerly Clawd/Moltbot) exploded from weekend project to 100,000+ GitHub stars in two months, drawing 2 million visitors in a single week, now officially rebranded with professional infrastructure and MiniMax M2.1 as recommended model provider. The Core Proposition: “Your assistant. Your machine. Your rules.”—open agent platform running on your own infrastructure (laptop/homelab/VPS), accessible through chat apps you already use (WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, Slack, Teams, iMessage), with data sovereignty (your infrastructure, your keys, your data). The Official Launch (January 29, 2026): Final name OpenClaw chosen after thorough trademark searches, domain purchases, migration code preparation—”Open” (open-source/community-driven) + “Claw” (lobster heritage preserved). The New Release: Twitch and Google Chat plugins, KIMI K2.5 and Xiaomi MiMo-V2-Flash model support, web chat image sending, 34 security-related commits, machine-checkable security models, gateway reliability improvements. The MiniMax Partnership: Native integration with MiniMax M2.1 as model provider, complete Telegram setup tutorial published by MiniMax, wizard-driven installation supporting MiniMax Coding Plan API keys, polyglot programming mastery and precision code refactoring capabilities. The Setup Process: Single-command installation (curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash), wizard-guided configuration, pairing-based security model, multi-platform support across any OS. The Road Ahead: Security remaining top priority, gateway reliability focus, more model/provider support, maintainer team expansion, sustainable funding exploration.

Part I: The OpenClaw Story—From Weekend Hack to Infrastructure

The Weekend Project Origins

Creator: Peter Steinberger (PSPDFKit founder)

Timeline: November 2025 inception

Initial Name: “WhatsApp Relay”

Original Scope: Simple messaging bridge

Evolution Speed: Two months from hack to 100K+ stars

Traffic Surge: 2 million visitors in single week

Community Response: Overwhelming enthusiasm, rapid adoption

The Triple Naming Journey

Name 1: Clawd (November 2025 – January 27, 2026)

Etymology: Playful pun on “Claude” + claw

Mascot Connection: Lobster icon with claw imagery

Reception: Initially perfect fit

Problem: Anthropic legal team polite reconsideration request

Outcome: Forced rebrand necessary

Name 2: Moltbot (January 27-29, 2026)

Decision Process: Chaotic 5 AM Discord community brainstorm

Symbolism: Molting represents growth—lobsters shedding shells to become bigger

Meaningful Intent: Transformation metaphor

Fatal Flaw: “Never quite rolled off the tongue”

Community Feedback: Awkward pronunciation, unclear meaning

Duration: Mere 48 hours before abandonment

Name 3: OpenClaw (January 29, 2026 – Present)

Professional Preparation:

• Trademark searches completed (came back clear)
• Domains purchased preemptively
• Migration code written and tested
• Legal clearance secured

Name Components:

“Open”:

• Open source
• Open to everyone
• Community-driven development

“Claw”:

• Lobster heritage preserved
• Nod to project origins
• Brand continuity maintained

The Declaration: “This time, we did our homework”

Peter's Assurance: Final form achieved

The Sacred Lobster

Creator's Note: “Yes, the mascot is still a lobster. Some things are sacred. 🦞”

Community Icon: Lobster transcending technical features

Cultural Significance: Symbol of resilience and transformation

Brand Consistency: Only constant through all name changes

Part II: What OpenClaw Actually Is

The Core Platform

Definition: Open agent platform running on user's own machine

Access Method: Works from chat apps you already use

Supported Platforms:

• WhatsApp
• Telegram
• Discord
• Slack
• Microsoft Teams
• Google Chat (newly added)
• Twitch (newly added)
• iMessage
• Signal
• Plus extension channels

The Philosophy: “Your assistant. Your machine. Your rules.”

The Data Sovereignty Advantage

Contrast with SaaS:

Traditional Assistants:

• Data lives on vendor servers
• Privacy concerns
• Vendor lock-in
• Terms of service restrictions

OpenClaw:

• Runs where you choose
• Your infrastructure
• Your encryption keys
• Your data ownership

Deployment Options:

• Personal laptop
• Home laboratory
• Virtual Private Server (VPS)
• Any machine with Node.js

The Architectural Freedom

No Cloud Dependency: Self-hosted by design

Infrastructure Control: User determines hosting environment

Cost Management: No subscription fees to SaaS providers

Privacy Guarantee: Data never leaves your control

Compliance: Easier regulatory compliance for enterprises

Part III: The January 29, 2026 Release

New Channel Support

Twitch Plugin:

• Live streaming integration
• Chat interaction capability
• Stream automation potential

Google Chat Plugin:

• Enterprise workspace integration
• Team collaboration features
• G Suite connectivity

Expanded Model Support

KIMI K2.5:

• Chinese language excellence
• Advanced reasoning capability
• Integration complete

Xiaomi MiMo-V2-Flash:

• Fast inference speed
• Resource efficiency
• Mobile-optimized

Existing Models:

• Anthropic Claude (Opus 4.5 recommended)
• OpenAI GPT series
• MiniMax M2.1 (creator-recommended)
• DeepSeek
• Local models via Ollama

Enhanced Web Chat

Image Sending: Send images in web chat just like messaging apps

Consistency: Feature parity across channels

User Experience: Seamless multimodal interaction

Security Hardening

34 Security-Related Commits: Comprehensive codebase hardening

Machine-Checkable Security Models: Formal verification available at github.com/vignesh07/clawdbot-formal-models

Security Best Practices Documentation: Comprehensive guide at docs.openclaw.ai/gateway/security

Prompt Injection Acknowledgment: Industry-wide unsolved problem explicitly addressed

Recommendation: Use strong models, study security practices

Gateway Reliability Improvements

Stability Focus: Making Gateway production-ready

Performance Optimization: Handling increased traffic

Error Handling: More robust failure recovery

Monitoring: Better observability

Part IV: The MiniMax M2.1 Integration

Why MiniMax M2.1?

Creator Recommendation: Peter Steinberger explicitly endorses MiniMax

Official Tutorial: MiniMax published comprehensive Moltbot integration guide

Native Support: First-class integration in OpenClaw

Capabilities:

• Polyglot programming mastery
• Precision code refactoring
• Advanced reasoning
• Cost efficiency

MiniMax Platform Features

Multi-Platform Support: WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, iMessage via plugins

AI Agent Bridge: Connect coding agents with RPC mode and tool streaming

Multi-Agent Routing: Different accounts to isolated agents with separate workspaces

MiniMax Integration: Native support as model provider

The Telegram Setup Tutorial

Official Documentation: Published by MiniMax platform team

Target Audience: Anyone wanting AI assistant in Telegram

Completion Time: Approximately 15-20 minutes

Difficulty: Beginner-friendly with screenshots

Part V: Complete Setup Guide—OpenClaw + MiniMax + Telegram

Prerequisites

Telegram Requirements:

• Telegram account (phone number required)
• Access to Telegram mobile or desktop app

MiniMax Requirements:

• MiniMax Coding Plan subscription OR
• Pay-as-you-go API Key

System Requirements:

• Computer with terminal access
• macOS, Linux, or Windows with WSL
• Internet connection

Step 1: Create Telegram Bot

1.1 Open Telegram:

• Launch Telegram application
• Log in with phone number if needed

1.2 Find BotFather:

• Search for @BotFather in Telegram
• Select official bot (verified checkmark)
• This is Telegram's official bot creation tool

1.3 Create Your Bot:

• Send /newbot command to BotFather
• Choose bot's display name (shown to users)
• Choose bot's username (must be unique, end with “bot”)
• CRITICAL: Save the bot token immediately
• Token format: 123456789:ABCdefGHIjklMNOpqrsTUVwxyz

1.4 Get Your Telegram ID:

• Search for @userinfobot in Telegram
• Send /start command
• Save your Telegram ID (numerical)
• This ID used for pairing/allowlisting

Step 2: Install OpenClaw

2.1 Run Installation Command:

curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash

Alternative Installation Methods:

# Via npm
npm install -g moltbot@latest

# Via homebrew (macOS)
brew install moltbot

2.2 Start Setup Wizard:

• When prompted, select “Yes” to start wizard
• Wizard handles all configuration automatically

2.3 Select QuickStart Mode:

• Choose QuickStart for guided setup
• Advanced mode available for experienced users

Step 3: Configure MiniMax as Model Provider

3.1 Select MiniMax Provider:

• When asked for model provider, choose “MiniMax”
• Other options: Anthropic, OpenAI, DeepSeek, Ollama

3.2 Select MiniMax M2.1 Model:

• Choose “MiniMax-M2.1” from model list
• Optimized for coding and complex reasoning

3.3 Enter API Key:

• Provide MiniMax Coding Plan API Key
• Get key from: platform.minimax.io/user-center/payment/coding-plan
• Or use Pay-as-you-go key from basic information page

3.4 Confirm Model Selection:

• Select “Keep current (minimax/MiniMax-M2.1)”
• Wizard confirms configuration

Step 4: Configure Telegram Channel

4.1 Select Telegram:

• Choose “Telegram (Bot API)” as messaging channel
• Other options available: WhatsApp, Discord, Slack, etc.

4.2 Enter Bot Token:

• Paste Telegram Bot token from Step 1.3
• Format verification automatic
• Token stored securely in configuration

4.3 Confirm Installation:

• Select “Yes” when asked to confirm
• Installation proceeds automatically

4.4 Select Package Manager:

• Choose “npm” (recommended)
• Other options: pnpm, bun

4.5 Select Skills (Optional):

• Use spacebar to select desired skills
• Skills extend agent capabilities
• Can install more later

4.6 Configure API Keys (Optional):

• Add keys for additional tools
• Or select “Skip for now”
• Can configure later in settings

4.7 Open Web UI (Optional):

• Select “Open the Web UI”
• Access Moltbot dashboard
• Monitor agent activity

Step 5: Connect Your Bot

5.1 Find Your Bot in Telegram:

• Search for your bot by username
• Select it to open chat

5.2 Start the Bot:

• Send /start command
• Bot responds with pairing code message
• Pairing code format: 6-digit number

5.3 Approve Pairing in Terminal:

clawdbot pairing approve telegram <code>

Replace <code> with actual pairing code from message

5.4 Verify Connection:

• Success message in terminal
• Confirmation message in Telegram
• Bot now active and ready

Step 6: Start Using Your AI Assistant

Test Conversation:

You: Hello!
Bot: Hi! I'm your personal AI assistant powered by MiniMax M2.1. 
     How can I help you today?

You: Write a Python function to calculate fibonacci numbers
Bot: [Provides code with explanation]

You: Explain how async/await works in JavaScript
Bot: [Detailed technical explanation]

Available Capabilities:

• Answering questions
• Code writing and debugging
• Text editing and writing
• Creative brainstorming
• Technical explanations
• And much more via Skills

Part VI: Advanced Configuration

Customizing Your Agent

Configuration File: ~/.clawdbot/moltbot.json

Basic Configuration:

{
  "agent": {
    "model": "minimax/MiniMax-M2.1",
    "temperature": 0.7
  },
  "channels": {
    "telegram": {
      "botToken": "YOUR_BOT_TOKEN",
      "allowFrom": ["YOUR_TELEGRAM_ID"]
    }
  }
}

Security Best Practices

DM Pairing Policy (Default):

• Unknown senders get pairing code
• Must approve before processing
• Prevents spam and attacks

Allowlist Configuration:

{
  "channels": {
    "telegram": {
      "allowFrom": ["123456789", "987654321"]
    }
  }
}

Public Access (Not Recommended):

{
  "channels": {
    "telegram": {
      "dmPolicy": "open",
      "allowFrom": ["*"]
    }
  }
}

Adding More Channels

Enable WhatsApp:

moltbot channels login
# Follow QR code pairing process

Enable Discord:

{
  "channels": {
    "discord": {
      "token": "YOUR_DISCORD_BOT_TOKEN"
    }
  }
}

Enable Slack:

{
  "channels": {
    "slack": {
      "botToken": "YOUR_SLACK_BOT_TOKEN",
      "appToken": "YOUR_SLACK_APP_TOKEN"
    }
  }
}

Part VII: The MiniMax M2.1 Advantage

Why Choose MiniMax M2.1?

Cost Efficiency:

• Coding Plan subscription model
• Predictable monthly costs
• Pay-as-you-go option available

Technical Excellence:

• Polyglot programming mastery (Python, JavaScript, Java, C++, Go, Rust, etc.)
• Precision code refactoring
• Advanced reasoning capabilities
• Strong tool-use abilities

Integration Quality:

• Native OpenClaw support
• Official tutorial from MiniMax
• Optimized for agent workflows
• Excellent function calling

Performance:

• Fast inference speeds
• High-quality outputs
• Reliable tool execution
• Good context handling

MiniMax Coding Plan Benefits

Subscription Model: Predictable monthly cost structure

API Access: Stable endpoint availability

Priority Support: Faster response times

Documentation: Comprehensive developer resources

Integration: Seamless OpenClaw configuration

Part VIII: The Road Ahead

Security Remains Top Priority

Ongoing Work:

• Additional security improvements
• Formal verification expansion
• Vulnerability testing
• Best practices evolution

Community Involvement: Security researchers welcomed

Transparency: Public security model repository

Gateway Reliability Focus

Stability Improvements: Production-grade reliability

Performance Optimization: Handling scale

Error Handling: Graceful degradation

Monitoring: Better observability tools

More Models and Providers

Expansion Plans: Supporting additional AI models

Provider Diversity: Reducing single-vendor dependency

User Choice: Maximum flexibility in model selection

Integration Quality: First-class support for each

Maintainer Team Growth

Current Challenge: Project outgrew solo maintenance

Process Development: PR and Issue handling workflows

Funding Exploration: Sustainable maintainer compensation

Full-Time Goal: Professional open-source development

How to Help:

• Contributing code/documentation
• Sponsoring organization: github.com/sponsors/openclaw
• Community support in Discord

Part IX: Community and Resources

The Claw Crew

Clawtributors: Community members who ship code, file issues, provide support

Discord Community: Active real-time collaboration

GitHub Activity: Thriving open-source ecosystem

Shared Ownership: Community-driven development

Getting Help

Official Documentation: docs.openclaw.ai

Community Discord: discord.gg/openclaw

GitHub Discussions: github.com/openclaw/openclaw/discussions

MiniMax Support: platform.minimax.io support channels

Contributing

Ways to Contribute:

• Code contributions (features, fixes)
• Documentation improvements
• Testing and bug reports
• Community support
• Translations
• Skills development

Contribution Guide: github.com/openclaw/openclaw/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md

Conclusion: Your Personal AI Assistant, Your Way

The OpenClaw Vision Realized

From Weekend Hack to Platform: Two-month journey to 100K+ stars

Community Validation: 2 million visitors in single week

Professional Foundation: Proper branding, security, governance

Data Sovereignty: “Your assistant. Your machine. Your rules.”

The MiniMax Partnership

Perfect Integration: Native support for MiniMax M2.1

Official Tutorial: MiniMax platform endorsement

Cost Efficiency: Coding Plan subscription model

Technical Excellence: Polyglot programming mastery

Getting Started Today

One-Command Installation:

curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash

Wizard-Guided Setup: 15-20 minutes to working assistant

Multi-Platform Access: Chat from anywhere

Your Infrastructure: Complete control and privacy

The Future is Open

Security First: Continuous hardening

Gateway Reliability: Production-grade stability

Model Diversity: Growing provider support

Community Driven: Sustainable open-source development

The Lobster Lives: Some things remain sacred 🦞

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Essential Links:

• OpenClaw Website: https://openclaw.ai
• GitHub Repository: https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw
• Documentation: https://docs.openclaw.ai
• Discord Community: https://discord.gg/openclaw
• MiniMax Platform: https://platform.minimax.io
• MiniMax Tutorial: https://platform.minimax.io/docs/solutions/moltbot
• Sponsorship: https://github.com/sponsors/openclaw

Start Building Your Personal AI Assistant: The weekend hack that became infrastructure is ready for you. Your machine. Your rules. Your assistant.