Social Media

X Now Lets Users Buy Premium Handles Through a New Marketplace

Elon Musk’s X has expanded access to its newly launched Handles Marketplace, enabling subscribers of Premium+, Premium Business and Premium Organization tiers to acquire coveted @usernames. Although buyers can pay five- to seven-figure fees, the platform is clear that participants receive a limited, revocable license, not full ownership rights.

X explains it as:

If your [username] transfer request is approved, you get a limited, revocable, and non-transferable license to use the handle, subject to the X Handle Marketplace Terms and User Agreement. X owns all handles, and may reclaim them anytime, but only intends doing so rarely outside of violations of the Terms.

What the Marketplace Offers

The marketplace allows users to purchase premium handles either through vacated @names now made available by X or via transfer-request flows. Prices can range from tens of thousands up to millions of U.S. dollars, depending on perceived popularity and demand.

Subscribers must first hold one of X’s high-tier plans and maintain an active account. According to X’s help-page, users must log in at least once every 30 days, maintain consistent engagement and abide by ongoing subscription requirements to keep control of the handle.

Important Limitations and Conditions

Prospective buyers should note several critical limitations:

X retains full ownership of all handles and may reclaim them at any time under its terms.
Cancel or downgrade your Premium subscription and X may revert your handle after a grace period.
Inactive accounts, those failing to engage with the platform, or accounts that change profiles may lose their acquired handle.

These clauses raise questions about the long-term value of investing in a handle if the license can be revoked or if the underlying subscription is cancelled.