X launches marketplace to redistribute inactive usernames

Elon Musk’s social media platform X has launched a marketplace to redistribute inactive or unused profile names.

The feature is initially available exclusively to paying Premium Business and Premium+ subscribers.

The platform offers two types of handles: priority and rare.

Priority usernames, often full names, multi-word phrases, or alphanumeric combinations, can be requested free of charge, with responses expected within three days.

However, if a user cancels or downgrades their subscription, their profile reverts to the original account name.

Rare usernames, such as “@Tom” or “@Pizza,” which are very short or highly sought-after, follow a different process.
They can be bought by invitation from X or made available through a public application process.

Once purchased, these usernames remain with the user even if their premium subscription ends.

Musk acquired Twitter nearly three years ago for around 44 billion U.S. dollars and rebranded it as X.

He had previously announced that usernames tied to inactive accounts would eventually be released.