X, the social media platform owned by Elon Musk, has launched a marketplace allowing Premium subscribers to request or purchase inactive usernames, as part of its latest effort to boost revenue and add value to its paid plans.
The new feature enables both free and paid handle requests, with “rare” usernames priced from $2,500 to potentially more than seven figures, according to the company. “Priority” handles — often full names or multi-word phrases such as @GabrielJones, @PizzaEater, or @ParadoxAI — can be requested for free by Premium+ and Premium Business subscribers.
“If a user’s request is approved, X will transfer the handle to them for free,” the company said. “However, if a user cancels or downgrades their subscription, their old handle will return to their account after a 30-day grace period.”
The platform added that “rare” handles, including short or culturally significant names like @Pizza, @Tom, and @One, will be distributed through limited “public drops” and invitation-only sales. Applicants for these handles will be evaluated based on their engagement, reach, and intended use.
X said the controlled marketplace model aims to prevent bot activity and misuse that could arise from releasing inactive handles in bulk. “This marketplace allows for fair and secure distribution through a controlled process,” the company noted. Requests are typically reviewed within three business days, and users can also register interest in unavailable handles through a Watchlist feature.
Source: TechCrunch