X plans a Handle Marketplace to let Premium+ and Premium Business subscribers search for and request inactive usernames; rare handles range from $2,500 to $1M+
Explore inactive 𝕏 handles Available to Full Access Premium Businesses. Paulo Vargas / Digital Trends : You'll soon be able to buy that dormant X handle you've had your eye on Bella Javier Liamzon / Tech Times : X Will Allow Some Users to Request Inactive Usernames Through a Marketplace Andrew Hutchinson / Social Media Today : X Announces ‘Handles Marketplace’ to Sell Dormant Usernames X: @dr3a_eth : one of the most interesting parts of this marketplace is that you can be invited to claim a username for free if it aligns with your profile activity and visibility while telegram made millions auctioning handles, X is playing the long term game and giving some of their handles [image] Nikita Bier / @nikitabier : Ladies and gentlemen: You can stop DMing me. Damian Mee / @meedamian : @XHandles Why are you pursuing a rental model instead of a purchase model? [image] @0xdamx : X trying to do in 2025 what @Telegram already perfected in 2022 🤭 Telegram's username marketplace ( https://fragment.com/) runs fully on @ton_blockchain in a decentralized way... Curious to see what infra X will actually use 👀 [image] @monetization_x : @XHandles @XEng You should make it clear this is only for Premium Organizations on Full Access subscriptions. Is there any plan to open it to more? Lisa / @gaykittycorps : it seems elon's twitter has given up on trying to become wechat and is instead trying to become telegram Sawyer Merritt / @sawyermerritt : NEWS: X has officially launched a marketplace where you can purchase old inactive X handles (usernames). It's currently available to Premium Business accounts, with access coming soon to Premium+ accounts. X is launching two categories of handles: Rare and Priority. Rare [video] @michaelonbtc : @XHandles First they say it's against their Ts & Cs to sell your handle. Now they create a marketplace where they buy and sell handles? Jane Manchun Wong / @wongmjane : Couldn't the scalpers / “OG user” folks just bid higher and then park these handles for resales? Thea / @theameoww : and they'll take away your claimed handle if you stop paying for premium+ 💀 [image] Mukul Sharma / @stufflistings : You will soon be able to grab inactive X handles. Some will be complementary, while some will, of course, be paid. Available to Premium Businesses, coming soon to Premium+ as well. [image] @notdeoxide : dude remember when you were verified on twitter and you had to be a credible guy with proof that you have a following outside of twitter Sharbel / @sharbelxyz : X is about to launch a handle marketplace. This is massive, because at the moment, the only way to buy a handle you want, is extremely risky. [image] @greenmanreports : As I am sadly lacking in the $20k+ it would cost to buy one of these from 𝕏.. I hereby invoke the ancient law of ‘trial by combat’ for @greenman's handle ✊ Dylan / @dylanmcd8 : Can't believe its finally happening And of course they're selling it. I don't see this ending well tbh [image] Ryan Jones / @rjonesy : Devious mechanics to Twitter's releasing of unused handles. Free, but you must stay subscribed to Premium+ to keep it. Basically you're renting it. @0xgrimjow : this is probably one of the best idea Twitter had since... Elon bought it. > creators and business can claim inactive handles > join a wait list now by entering the handle you'd like wondering how they'll handle the switch for these accounts (remove their accounts? idk). Austen Allred / @austen : If X is smart it won't just sell the most valuable handles at auction. It will rent them. Bluesky: Ted Maul / @blindtubemares : @forkhandles [embedded post] Simon Pegg / @simonpegg : Now, is it worth me going back over there to get a blue tick SOLELY to flog that username back to the other one of me? [embedded post] Dr. Steven Buckley / @stevenjcbuckley : Maybe just me, but this seems like quite a desperate move. — Basically threatening some accounts/orgs to start using the platform again or lose their history. — And/or desperate way to make a bit of money. [embedded post] General Boles / @generalboles : I am reluctantly willing to accept a low 6 figure offer for @GeneralBoles [embedded post] @snugbucket : Anyone want to buy mine? [embedded post] Mastodon: @igb@mastodon.hccp.org : Yuck. Only a matter of time until my three-letter handle gets hoovered up. Still sad to see the flaming shambles of what was once an amazing community sink further into the swamp of Elon's X. — https://www.theverge.com/... Forums: r/Twitter : X is launching a marketplace for inactive handles Akosgheri To / Beehaw : X is launching a marketplace for inactive handles
Context & Ripple Effects
The initiative formalizes work that had surfaced in 2023 reports of a proposed inactive-handle marketplace, when prospective buyers were reportedly quoted a flat $50,000 fee.
It also adds a new benefit to X’s paid-account ladder, following the introduction of Premium+ and Basic tiers with differentiated visibility and advertising features. The handle program turns a scarce piece of account identity into another subscription-linked privilege.
First-order effects
- Full Access Premium Business accounts gain a route to search for and request dormant usernames, while Premium+ access is slated to follow; eligibility is no longer solely a matter of account creation timing.
- Rare names become a high-priced product category, and the reported subscription-retention requirement makes access to a claimed handle contingent on continuing paid membership.
Second-order effects
- Businesses, creators, and brand owners that value short or category-defining names face a choice between paying X’s quoted price or retaining less desirable existing identities; the marketplace concentrates that demand within premium plans.
- Bundling handles with subscriptions gives X a recurring-revenue lever beyond ads and feature access, rather than treating dormant usernames as a one-time transfer market.
Third-order effects
- If adopted, the model would further shift social-platform identity from a user-held account attribute toward a platform-controlled, tiered service entitlement.
- The outcome will depend on whether buyers accept ongoing subscription dependence for names that can be central to brand recognition; weak uptake would limit its value as a premium differentiator.
The trend: Platforms are increasingly packaging scarce on-platform identity, reach, and access rights as monetizable subscription benefits rather than offering them uniformly to all users.