Elon Musk’s X Explores Stablecoins Like USDC for Creator Payments 

Highlights:

• X is exploring stablecoins such as USDC for creator royalties and rewards.
• Original Content Rewards will replace the platform’s older Revenue Sharing program.
• The stablecoin market exceeds $300 billion as digital payments grow.

Elon Musk’s X is exploring a new payment route for creators as the platform reshapes its reward system. The company has explored using stablecoins, including Circle’s USDC, for creator payments. A person familiar with the talks told CoinDesk that discussions remain active. X has not announced a final token choice or launch date.

Elon Musk’s X Considers Stablecoins for Creator Rewards

USDC could give X another route for paying creators across countries. Stablecoins can move through blockchain networks without relying on several correspondent banks. That structure can shorten settlement paths for transfers. Moreover, it can support smaller payments where banking infrastructure varies.

🚨ELON MUSK’S X EXPLORES STABLECOINS TO PAY CREATORS!@elonmusk’s X is in talks to use stablecoins like Circle’s USDC to pay royalties to influencers and content providers for their uploads, according to @CoinDesk.

The discussions are ongoing, per a person familiar with the… pic.twitter.com/6uz6ym4NJk

— Crypto Banter (@crypto_banter) August 20, 2026

The stablecoin market now exceeds $300 billion, according to data from DefiLlama. Payment firms, technology companies, and financial institutions have increased their work with blockchain settlement during 2026. Meta already offers some creators USDC payouts through Stripe. Eligible users can receive funds through wallets on Solana or Polygon.

Meta first offered that option to selected creators in Colombia and the Philippines. The service gives X a recent example of a major social platform using blockchain-based creator payments. Still, X has not confirmed that it will follow the same structure. The current discussions only show that the company is evaluating the payment method.

Creator Payout Overhaul Changes the Payment Model

The creator payment talks come as X moves away from its long-running Revenue Sharing program. On August 8, the platform said it is introducing Original Content Rewards, which focuses on original ideas, reporting, expertise, creativity, and commentary. Under X’s current terms, eligible creators receive payments through a payment processor after meeting payout requirements.

https://t.co/Oy1nZbisbA

— Creators (@XCreators) August 7, 2026

Elon Musk’s X has expanded its financial features during 2026. In April, X expanded interactive Cashtags with live stock and crypto charts. Canadian users also gained limited trading links through Wealthsimple. Those features placed market data directly inside user feeds and supported X’s wider push into financial services.

X Money now adds another layer to that strategy. The service promotes money transfers, direct deposits, bill payments, checks, and a Visa-linked card. As a result, creator payouts could eventually sit beside other payment tools inside X. The company has not said whether any crypto payout option would connect directly with X Money.

Musk Companies Already Use Digital Payment Rails

Musk’s other businesses already have experience with blockchain payments. SpaceX uses digital dollars for some Starlink cross-border collections in emerging markets. That existing use gives Musk’s companies practical exposure to blockchain settlement outside social media. It also shows a payment use case focused on international transfers.

In March, Musk hired Benji Taylor as X’s head of design, with responsibilities linked to xAI and SpaceX. Taylor previously led design at Coinbase’s Base network and worked on wallets and decentralized finance. His appointment added crypto product experience to X while the company continued developing its broader payments ambitions.

Other payment companies have also moved deeper into digital currencies this year. Western Union launched its USDPT token on Solana in May. In addition, more than 140 companies backed the Open USD stablecoin project announced on June 30.