X is in discussions to use stablecoins such as Circle's USDC to pay content creators, according to a person familiar with the plans. The talks are ongoing, and if they pan out, the company would swap its existing Revenue Sharing program for a new rewards system that settles in digital tokens instead of dollars.
What replaces Revenue Sharing
This month, X said it's ending new enrollment for Revenue Sharing and introduced the Original Content Rewards Program. Under the new setup, eligible creators earn from qualified impressions that Premium users generate on the Home Timeline, with at least half of the post visible.
To qualify, creators need at least 500 verified followers and 500,000 Home Timeline impressions from verified users over the previous 90 days. They also have to subscribe to X Premium, Premium+, or Premium Business.
The stablecoin angle
Stablecoins have a combined market value of over $300 billion and are already used for cross-border payments. X isn't alone in testing them for influencer commissions; other social media platforms are also experimenting with stablecoin payouts. Separately, SpaceX reportedly collects cross-border payments from Starlink customers using stablecoins.
If X follows through, it would mark a notable shift for a company that has yet to embrace crypto in its wallet. The stablecoin discussion could affect how payments are delivered, though no decision has been made public.
X Money's slow roll
Elon Musk confirmed in March that X Money would open to early public access within weeks. It launched to a limited set of US Premium+ users in June and expanded to a wider group by late July.
The wallet is dollar-based: users can hold balances, make free instant transfers, receive direct deposits, and get a Visa debit card. It offers up to 6% annual yield and cashback. But it does not yet support crypto or stablecoins.
Timeline for creators
Existing Revenue Sharing participants can keep earning until September 7. Starting September 8, they can apply for Original Content Rewards, with the first payout scheduled for September 25. Whether that first check lands in dollars or stablecoins is the open question—and one the ongoing talks will answer.
