Elon Musk’s payment system X Money launches this year. Will crypto be allowed?

We just got confirmation that some time in 2025, Elon Musk will be launching X Money, a payment system built to transform X (formerly known as Twitter) into an “everything app.”

That kind of app combines social media, payments, and possibly cryptocurrency into one chaotic, and perhaps world-changing experiment. If anyone can pull it off, it’s Elon—love him or hate him. The question now though is: will crypto finally get a seat at the table?

Linda Yaccarino, X’s CEO, dropped the news on New Year’s Eve 2024. She also announced extras like X TV and Grok, Elon’s AI baby, to complete the all-in-one fantasy app.

A billion users and one dollar sign

So X hit one billion users in December. Elon himself confirmed it, though only about 40% of them are truly active, mostly during major events. Still, one billion is no joke. That’s a massive base for a payment system, especially one Elon is positioning as a potential rival to WeChat.

If you’re not familiar, WeChat dominates China by letting users do everything from messaging to shopping to transferring money—all without leaving the app. Elon has been eyeing that model for years.

The first big hint that X Money was in the works came in November when a dollar sign icon mysteriously appeared on Joe Rogan’s profile.

But let’s not forget licensing. X Payments LLC has secured money transmitter licenses in 33 U.S. states, a critical step to operate legally. But New York (America’s Finance Capital) is still a problem. Without a license there, X Money won’t be able to operate in one of the biggest financial markets in the world.

The crypto card

Now, onto the most interesting part: crypto. Will Elon let X Money handle cryptos? It’s a million-dollar question, and all signs point to a resounding… “probably.” Elon has always had a soft spot for Bitcoin and Dogecoin, so if he does integrate crypto, it’s likely gonna be one of them.

There’s also chatter about stablecoins like USDC (USD Coin). Coinbase’s CEO, Brian Armstrong, thinks that USDC could be a perfect fit for X Money. Thanks to their stability, they’re ideal for everyday transactions.

Meanwhile, in 2021, Elon pulled the plug on Bitcoin payments for Tesla, blaming the environmental effects of mining. He said at least 50% of Bitcoin’s energy usage needed to come from renewable sources for him to allow it for payments again.

Well as we reported before, miners have now hit 56.7%. Regions like Quebec, Iceland, and Texas have gone green, using hydro, geothermal, and solar energy to clean up Bitcoin’s image. This progress could be Elon’s motivation to bring Bitcoin into X Money.

See the timing couldn’t be better. President Donald Trump is set to retake the Oval in about two weeks, and his administration is stacked with pro-crypto allies. Trump himself loves crypto and has become quite cozy with Elon—they even spent New Year’s Eve together. As of press time, they’re still together at Mar-a-lago.

But this isn’t just about Elon’s love for innovation or his ego (though let’s not pretend that’s not part of it). X Money could change the world. Peer-to-peer payments will likely be a core feature, similar to Venmo or PayPal.

The difference? X Money has the potential to introduce crypto into everyday transactions, something no major social platform has done successfully.

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