Social media platform X has announced a new feature, the Handle Marketplace, where users can buy inactive usernames that have not been used for years.
This marketplace will allow X’s paid subscribers to get access to desirable handles that were previously unavailable. The move aims to make use of dormant accounts and create new revenue streams for the platform.
How It Works
The Handle Marketplace will have two main categories:
- Priority Handles: These are available for free to Premium+ and Premium Business users. They include less-common but desirable usernames such as full names or creative phrases.
- Rare Handles: These are short, catchy, or high-value usernames such as “@Food”, “@Tech”, or “@John”. They will be available for purchase, with prices starting around $2,500 and increasing significantly for exclusive models.
Users who apply for rare handles may need to provide details on how they intend to use them, ensuring the system is fair and prevents bots or resellers from abusing it.
What It Means for Users
For creators, businesses, and influencers, this is a big opportunity. Owning a clean, short, and memorable handle can make a brand look more professional and credible.
For X, this move opens up a new source of income beyond advertising, while also reducing the number of inactive accounts that clutter the platform.
However, there’s one condition: if a user with a Priority handle cancels their Premium subscription, they might lose that handle and revert to their old one. Rare handles, on the other hand, are expected to remain with the buyer even if the subscription changes, depending on X’s final terms.
Why X Is Doing This
Usernames are becoming valuable digital assets. Just like website domain names, short and unique handles are in high demand. By launching this marketplace, X is turning these unused digital assets into something profitable while rewarding paying subscribers with exclusivity.
This step also aligns with X’s broader strategy of building a more business-oriented ecosystem, focusing on monetisation, brand identity, and creator tools.
User Reactions and Concerns
While many users have welcomed the idea, some are questioning whether selling handles might create a new wave of digital speculation, where people buy names just to resell them.
Others worry that smaller users may be pushed out of getting simple, clean usernames unless they pay for Premium plans.
X has said it plans to monitor applications closely to prevent abuse and ensure fair distribution.
Bottom Line
The Handle Marketplace is another bold experiment by X to reshape how digital identity works on social platforms.
For businesses and creators, it’s a chance to secure a valuable name. For X, it’s a smart way to monetise unused assets and reward paid users.
If successful, this could inspire other platforms to follow turning usernames into the next big online commodity.
Summary Table
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| What | A new marketplace where inactive or unused usernames (“handles”) will be reassigned. |
| Who Can Join | Available only to X’s Premium+ and Premium Business subscribers. |
| Types of Handles | • Priority Handles – free to request for eligible users. • Rare Handles – paid, high-value, short or popular names. |
| Pricing | Rare handles may cost from $2,500 to even millions, depending on demand and uniqueness. |
| Rules | Downgrading your plan after getting a Priority handle may cause you to lose it. |
| Purpose | To monetise unused usernames, reduce handle hoarding, and attract paid subscribers. |
