Summary
Social media platform X is in talks to explore how stablecoins, such as Circle's USDC, can be used to pay royalties to influential users for uploading content, according to a person familiar with the plans. The move would extend Elon Musk's embrace of stablecoins, which are already used by SpaceX's Starlink service for cross-border payments. The discussions come as X phases out its Revenue Sharing program and rolls out an Original Content Rewards Program.
Key Points
- X in talks to use stablecoins such as Circle's USDC to pay royalties to influential users for content
- Conversations with X ongoing, per a person who also works with other social media platforms testing stablecoins
- SpaceX already uses stablecoins to collect cross-border payments from Starlink customers in emerging markets
- X phasing out Revenue Sharing program; rolling out Original Content Rewards Program (launches Sept 8)
- New program rewards creators for original ideas, expertise, reporting, creativity, commentary
- Eligibility: 500 verified followers, 500,000 Home Timeline impressions from verified users in 90 days
- Stablecoin market cap over $300 billion
- X Money is being built as X's payments system; X secured U.S. payment licenses and partnered with Visa on digital wallet services
- Musk hired crypto veteran Benji Taylor (ex-Coinbase Base) as head of design at X in March
- Plan not officially announced; unconfirmed which stablecoin or when it could launch
- Cross-border business payments offer a near-term use case: stablecoins lower costs, speed settlement, provide dollar-linked value
- 77% of consumers said they would open a crypto/stablecoin wallet through an existing banking or fintech app (PYMNTS)
Sources
- https://www.coindesk.com/business/2026/08/20/elon-musk-s-x-is-exploring-stablecoins-to-pay-influencers-and-content-providers
- https://coinpedia.org/news/x-eyes-stablecoin-based-payment-for-creators-exploring-usdc/
- https://www.pymnts.com/cryptocurrency/2026/x-weighs-paying-influencers-and-creators-in-stablecoins/