X is starting a new way to make money by selling unused usernames.
Recent changes in X’s website show that businesses and other organizations that pay $1,000 per month for a Verified Organization subscription will soon be able to bid on no longer-used usernames. According to information in the app, the starting price for these usernames will be $10,000, and some could cost more than $500,000.
These changes were first noticed by reverse engineer Nima Owji, who told TechCrunch that the new features went live on Wednesday. However, the website where companies can buy usernames is not yet available to the public.
X has considered making money by selling unused usernames before, especially under Elon Musk’s leadership. In January 2023, the New York Times reported that X, then still called Twitter, was thinking about setting up an auction to sell usernames. Musk has also helped clean up unused accounts, which he started doing in May 2023.
In November 2023, Forbes reported that X had been quietly looking for buyers to purchase unused usernames, but no official announcement was made. Although X’s official policy says it can’t release inactive usernames, there have been reports of people buying them unofficially.
By allowing businesses to buy usernames officially, X could make more money in addition to the money it earns from subscriptions, ads, and developer services. This could also encourage people to stay active on the platform to avoid losing their username to someone else.
The new FAQ on the website explains how the process will work. Companies will use an automated bot to request a username to start buying a username. X will reply within three business days to let them know if the username is available. After the purchase, the username will be transferred to the new owner in one or two days or moved to an account the company already owns.
There may also be discounts for businesses buying multiple usernames at once, depending on the quantity and price.
X has not yet responded to requests for comment on its plans to sell usernames.
