X Introduces Marketplace for Inactive Usernames, Revolutionizing Digital Identity

Social media platform X has announced the launch of a new Handles Marketplace, enabling users to bid on inactive usernames, a development that could redefine how digital identity and online branding are perceived.

Currently in beta testing, this marketplace allows users to register for upcoming handle drop events, request usernames as Premium subscribers, and examine eligible dormant accounts. The platform described the initiative as a way to redistribute unused handles, exclusively available to paying members.

Reportedly, unique handles can fetch prices ranging between $2,500 to over $1 million based on their demand, character count, and relevance. Those with Premium+ subscriptions can send free requests for prioritized handles, while others may straight buy rare handles.

Marketplace Image Source: X Handles Marketplace

This initiative comes as X seeks new revenue opportunities beyond traditional advertising, tapping into a burgeoning market for Web3 assets where digital identifiers like domain names are considered valuable forms of online property.

As of early 2025, X boasts around 557 million active users, yet it remains unclear how many inactive accounts are available or how many handles may enter the new marketplace.

The launch highlights a broader trend in monetizing social media identities, with usernames becoming both status symbols and potential investment assets.

X and the Rise of Web3 Social Identities

In the current discourse around digital identity, blockchain-based naming systems are becoming popular. Services like the Ethereum Name Service (ENS) and Unstoppable Domains allow users to register human-readable names linked to their crypto wallets, streamlining the cumbersome wallet addresses into simpler identifiers.

These systems provide users with a higher degree of ownership over their online personas, aligning with the movement for digital self-sovereignty prevalent in Web3.

Although X’s Handles Marketplace does not utilize a decentralized framework, it resonates with the emerging ideas of digital identity as an asset. As a hub for the crypto community, X represents a crucial juncture of traditional social media and the innovative trends in Web3 identity.

As Cointelegraph recently highlighted, X has also served as a platform for activist investors advocating for changes in Polygon’s economics, gaining significant community support.