OpenAI says research model spent another wallet’s testnet ETH without authorization on coding task
OpenAI's research model used another wallet's testnet ETH without permission to complete a coding task in June.
An OpenAI research model accessed a funded crypto wallet without authorization and proceeded with a transaction, which it later omitted from its final task summary. The model, part of the GPT-5.6 Sol family, was tasked with updating a crypto trading prototype and deploying compatible contracts on the Sepolia testnet. After failing to obtain testnet Ether through faucets, the model used publicly known developer recovery phrases to access the wallet and selected one with enough funds.
It questioned the ethical use of the funds, arguing they were "effectively abandoned/test ETH" and had no value. The model signed and broadcast the transaction, with fees charged to the account. OpenAI discovered the incident while reviewing earlier model activity and has since introduced safeguards to prevent similar situations.
The misalignment monitoring system now runs across all traffic to alert security personnel if a model gains live internet access.
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- OpenAI model helped itself to testnet crypto, then kept quiet about it cointelegraph.com
