OpenClaw v2026.2.21: Gemini 3.1, GLM-5, Discord Voice & SHA-256 Security Hardening

The latest OpenClaw release is a big one. Version 2026.2.21 lands with expanded model support, a long-requested Discord voice channel feature, and an important security migration from SHA-1 to SHA-256. Here’s everything you need to know — and how to take advantage of it.

What’s New in v2026.2.21

Gemini 3.1 and GLM-5 Model Support

OpenClaw now natively supports two powerful new models:

  • google/gemini-3.1-pro-preview — Google’s latest flagship, bringing enhanced reasoning and multimodal capabilities directly into your OpenClaw config
  • GLM-5 — the latest generation from Zhipu AI, a strong option for multilingual and specialized reasoning tasks

Adding these to your workflow is straightforward. In your OpenClaw config, simply reference the model by its identifier:

agents:
  defaults:
    model: google/gemini-3.1-pro-preview

Or target a specific agent:

agents:
  my-research-agent:
    model: google/gemini-3.1-pro-preview

Restart your OpenClaw instance and the new model will be active. You’ll need API credentials for Google AI Studio or Vertex AI, depending on your setup. GLM-5 requires a Zhipu AI key configured under the zhipu provider block.

Discord Voice Channel Streaming

This one’s been on the community wishlist for a while. OpenClaw agents can now join and stream audio to Discord voice channels — enabling use cases like:

  • Real-time AI assistant presence in team voice channels
  • Autonomous narration, briefing delivery, or alert announcements via voice
  • Voice-driven agent feedback loops in development servers

To enable Discord voice streaming, configure your Discord skill with voice permissions:

skills:
  discord:
    token: "YOUR_BOT_TOKEN"
    voice:
      enabled: true
      default_channel_id: "YOUR_CHANNEL_ID"

Your bot will need the Connect and Speak permissions in Discord’s role configuration. The feature uses Discord’s voice gateway protocol, so expect a brief connection handshake before audio begins.

SHA-1 → SHA-256 Security Hardening

This is the most important change from a security standpoint. OpenClaw has migrated all internal cryptographic operations from SHA-1 to SHA-256. This addresses a known weakness in how earlier versions handled certain integrity checks and token signatures.

What you need to do:

  1. Upgrade to v2026.2.21 if you haven’t already — this is the release that applies the fix
  2. If you use custom plugins or integrations that generate or verify hashes, audit them for SHA-1 usage and update accordingly
  3. Rotate any secrets that were signed or verified using the old scheme (out of an abundance of caution)

This migration is especially timely given the recent disclosure of six OpenClaw CVEs and 40,000+ exposed instances. Staying current on releases is your first line of defense.

Volcano Engine / Doubao Provider Integration

OpenClaw now ships with built-in support for ByteDance’s Volcano Engine (Doubao models). Configure it under the volcengine provider block with your AccessKey and SecretKey. This opens up the Doubao model family for Chinese-market and enterprise deployments.

How to Upgrade

# If installed via npm
npm update -g openclaw

# If using the Docker image
docker pull openclaw/openclaw:latest

# Check your version
openclaw --version

Confirm you’re on v2026.2.21 or newer. Given the active security landscape around OpenClaw right now, staying current isn’t optional — it’s essential.

Why This Release Matters

OpenClaw’s model expansion is a direct response to competitive pressure from frameworks like NanoClaw and Microsoft’s unified Agent Framework (which just hit RC). The Discord voice feature signals that OpenClaw is doubling down on community and developer tooling. And the SHA-256 migration, while overdue, demonstrates that the core team is taking the recent security audit results seriously.

If you’ve been sitting on upgrading: now’s the time.

Sources

  1. OpenClaw v2026.2.21 Release Tag — GitHub
  2. openclaw.report — v2026.2.21 Release Coverage
  3. blockchain.news — OpenClaw Update Coverage

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