X is looking into paying its biggest creators with stablecoins, and the company has been in talks with Circle Internet Group about using its USDC token. The discussions are ongoing, according to people familiar with the matter, and no final decision has been made.
Why stablecoins, why now
The move would let X route creator payouts in a digital dollar that trades 1-to-1 with the U.S. dollar. That avoids the volatility of bitcoin or ether, while still moving money over a blockchain instead of a traditional bank wire. For creators in countries with shaky banking systems, a stablecoin payout can arrive faster and without conversion fees.
X has been pushing more features for its top posters — subscriptions, tips, and ad revenue sharing. Adding USDC would give those payouts a crypto option, something other social platforms have avoided because of regulatory headaches.
Circle's pitch to social platforms
Circle has spent the past year courting consumer apps, not just financial firms. Its USDC is already used in payment cards and remittance services. The company's pitch to X likely centers on low transaction costs and instant settlement, compared to the days-long waits creators often face with bank transfers.
Neither X nor Circle has confirmed the talks publicly. The people involved described them as exploratory, meaning the technical work and the business terms are still being worked out.
What a creator payout might look like
If the deal goes through, creators who earn money from X's ad revenue sharing or subscriptions could choose to receive their cut in USDC instead of fiat currency. That would require X to hold a crypto balance or partner with a custodian, and it would need to handle tax reporting for those payments.
The company hasn't said which creators would be eligible or whether the option would roll out globally. The discussions are focused on "key users" for now, which suggests an initial test group before any wider launch.
Regulatory questions remain
Stablecoin payments still sit in a gray area for U.S. regulators. The SEC has gone after several crypto firms, though it has largely left stablecoin issuers alone. Circle itself is preparing for an initial public offering, and a deal with X would give it a marquee consumer client.
X has not filed any paperwork or made any public statement about the project. The talks could still fall apart, as they often do in early-stage crypto negotiations. The next signal will come from X's own product roadmap — if the company starts hiring for crypto payment roles or updates its terms of service to mention stablecoins, the deal is likely moving forward.
