Social media platform X is reportedly in talks to pay its most influential content creators in stablecoins, with Circle’s USDC among the leading candidates. Two people familiar with the discussions told CoinDesk on August 20 that the conversations remain active, and that X is not alone: other social platforms are also testing stablecoins for influencer commissions. X has not commented publicly on the report.
The talks arrive as stablecoins pass a combined market capitalization above $301 billion. USDC represents about 24.03% of that supply at $72.464 billion, while Tether’s USDT controls 60.68% at $182.962 billion. If X adds a stablecoin payout rail at its scale, it would channel fresh demand toward whichever token it selects. Musk’s companies already have experience here: SpaceX reportedly collects Starlink payments in stablecoins across emerging markets and handles cross-border transfers outside traditional banking rails.
X has also strengthened its crypto-related talent bench: in March, it hired Benji Taylor as head of design, a role connected to both xAI and SpaceX. Taylor previously led design at Coinbase’s Base blockchain and has deep experience in wallets and decentralized finance.
X is also revamping creator compensation. The company recently ended new enrollment for its Revenue Sharing program and introduced the Original Content Rewards Program. Under the new system, eligible creators must have at least 500 verified followers and 500,000 Home Timeline impressions from verified users during the previous 90 days. They must subscribe to X Premium, Premium+, or Premium Business. Existing Revenue Sharing participants can earn through September 7, and may apply for the new program from September 8, with first payments scheduled for September 25. Stablecoin settlement could eventually shape how those global payouts are delivered.
X Money, the platform’s in-house payment product, launched for US users in late June with a Visa debit card and money transmitter licenses in 41 states plus Washington, D.C. It currently operates as a fiat-only wallet with no crypto or stablecoin support, although Senator Elizabeth Warren previously pressed Musk on whether future stablecoin ambitions could threaten financial stability. Elsewhere, YouTube lets US creators take earnings in PayPal’s PYUSD, and Meta has piloted USDC creator payouts in the Philippines and Colombia over Solana and Polygon. X’s potential move would mark another major social platform tying creator payments to blockchain rails.
