X has removed inactive users from the market, promoting the digitization of identities.

The social platform X (formerly Twitter) has once again sparked controversy. This time, it’s not due to the posts posted on the platform, but rather because of the “names” used by users. The platform has introduced a “non-active users market,” allowing Premium users to buy and sell rare usernames. Some short or brand-related usernames can be sold for prices as high as seven digits in dollars. This move indicates that X is accelerating the process of monetizing digital identities, turning “username” into a tradable asset. In the context of Web3 and the digital economy, social identities are no longer just virtual symbols—they could become the next “digital gold.”

Social media platform X is launching a new Handles Marketplace, allowing users to bid on non-active usernames. This could reshape the value of digital identities and online brands.

This marketplace is currently in testing phase. Users can sign up for the waiting list for upcoming account deactivation events, apply for accounts through premium subscriptions, and browse eligible inactive accounts. The company describes this as a “solution for reallocating unused accounts,” available only to paid users.

According to TechCrunch, the price of rare nicknames ranges from $2,500 to $1 million, depending on their popularity, character length, and cultural relevance. Premium+ subscribers can submit applications for “priority” nicknames for free, while other users can purchase “rare” nicknames directly.

Source: X Handles Marketplace

The launch of this initiative comes at a time when X continues to seek new sources of revenue beyond advertising. It also leverages the growing Web3 asset market, where digital identifiers such as domain names or short usernames are considered real-estate assets with tangible market value. According to industry analysts, by early 2025, X is estimated to have 570 million active users. However, the company has not revealed the number of inactive accounts or how many accounts can be sold through the marketplace. Nevertheless, this release highlights a broader shift in how social media identities are monetized. Now, usernames themselves have become symbols of identity and potential investment assets. The emergence of X and Web3 social identities plays a crucial role in this context. In the ongoing debate surrounding digital identities, blockchain-based domain systems are becoming increasingly popular. Decentralized domain services like Ethereum’s ENS and Unstoppable Domains allow users to register memorable domain names that directly link to their crypto wallets, replacing long and complex wallet addresses with simpler identifiers. These systems give users a stronger sense of ownership over their online identities, reflecting Web3’s emphasis on digital self-governance. Although X’s new Handle Marketplace doesn’t use decentralized methods, it still relies on similar digital identity asset concepts. This platform has long been a hub for the cryptocurrency and blockchain communities, making X a natural intersection point between traditional social media and emerging Web3 identity trends.

Source: Thyme

As reported by Cointelegraph recently, X also serves as a platform for aggressive investors. One of these investors used the website to advocate for comprehensive reforms to the token economics of Polygon. This proposal received positive feedback from the community.