X’s Grok chatbot made headlines recently after declining to select a winner for a $1,000 Ethereum giveaway organized by popular crypto influencer Crypto Rover. The decision was based on prior allegations of pump-and-dump activity detailed by on-chain investigator ZachXBT.
In responses to participants in the contest, Grok stated that it was refraining from choosing a winner due to “substantiated reports” implicating Rover in schemes that could potentially compromise community safety. Although the specific messages are no longer available, screenshots circulated showing Grok referencing ZachXBT’s findings and urging caution.
The incident arose from a routine promotional giveaway initiated by Rover, who goes by @rovercrc on social media and boasts over 1 million followers. Participants were required to like, repost, and follow Rover’s account for a chance to win the prize.
According to ZachXBT’s investigation, the allegations revolve around a project that Rover was contracted to promote back in May 2023. Despite receiving a $10,000 payment and a percentage of the project’s token supply, Rover allegedly failed to fulfill his promotional obligations. He later claimed that he would postpone content creation until “better market conditions” and even threatened legal action against the project’s team for calling him out.
ZachXBT further linked Rover’s wallet activity to subsequent token sales, which resulted in approximately 40 ETH in profits. The funds were traced back to a known Bybit deposit address associated with Rover.
The investigation also uncovered 10 new wallets linked to the same promotional period, acquiring 9% of the token’s supply shortly before Rover’s promotional posts. Following Rover’s involvement, the project team behind the meme coin ceased communication, leading to speculation within the community.
Despite the controversy, Rover has not publicly addressed Grok’s decision and has continued to tag the chatbot in his future giveaways. While some of Grok’s responses did confirm that a winner would be selected, none were chosen in the latest round of giveaways.
Grok, developed by xAI, has faced scrutiny for its unpredictable responses and controversial statements. However, its creators maintain that the bot is designed to be a “maximally truth-seeking” assistant.
ZachXBT’s investigative work has gained recognition within the crypto community, with previous findings contributing to law enforcement actions and asset recoveries totaling over $210 million. The on-chain investigator’s meticulous approach has solidified his reputation as a key figure in promoting accountability within the industry.