X launches an official marketplace for usernames
The platform X, formerly known as Twitter, is set to transform a key aspect of its ecosystem: usernames. It has just announced the creation of the X Handle Marketplace, an official marketplace for pseudonyms that enables users to reserve or purchase inactive usernames.
How Does the X Handle Marketplace Work?
According to a report from The Verge, this new service will allow certain subscribers to browse a database of available usernames, categorized into two groups:
- Free usernames, primarily consisting of full names, multi-word phrases, or alphanumeric combinations.
- “Rare” or premium usernames, which may require a substantial payment to acquire.
According to X, prices could range from $2,500 to several million, depending on demand and the rarity of the name.
The aim is to reassign inactive usernames while creating a new revenue stream for the platform.
The X Handle Marketplace is our industry-first solution to redistribute handles that are no longer in use.
Eligible Premium subscribers will be able to search and make requests, with both complimentary and paid options available.
—Handle Marketplace (@XHandles) October 19, 2025
Exclusive to Premium Subscribers
The X Handle Marketplace will not be accessible to everyone. The program is limited to Premium Plus and Premium Business subscribers, the two highest-tier plans on the social network.
When a user acquires a new username through the marketplace, their old username is “frozen,” and if they unsubscribe or downgrade, they automatically revert to their previous handle.
A New Strategy to Boost Subscriptions
According to The Verge, this initiative is part of a broader strategy to encourage paid subscriptions on X. Since Elon Musk’s acquisition of the platform, the company has been looking to diversify its revenue sources beyond advertising by increasing exclusive services for Premium subscribers:
- Reduced advertisements,
- Improved visibility for posts,
- And now, exclusive access to rare usernames.
