Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and X (formerly Twitter), is set to launch “X Payments” later this year, a new payment system for the social media platform that, despite Musk’s known affinity for cryptocurrencies, will not initially support digital assets.
The proposed system aims to rival traditional payment apps like Venmo and Cash App. According to a Bloomberg report, this information was contained in a 350-page document and financial license emails submitted to regulators in 11 states.
Per the documents obtained, X Payments will offer features such as fund storage, transfer, and payment for goods and services, competing with payment apps such as Venmo, Cash App, and Zelle. The company also revealed it will charge small fees for some transactions, adding:
“However, Twitter Payments does not anticipate charging fees for all of its Services, as the overall goal of the Services is to help increase participation and engagement on the X Platform.”
During a meeting with regulators in Maine earlier this year, the company reiterated this, dismissing plans for a cryptocurrency wallet launch. It is to be noted that Musk purchased Twitter (now X) for $44 billion in 2022 when the company faced financial struggles. Ever since, he has explored monetization avenues, aiming to build X into “an everything app.”
Musk seeks to replicate the success of China’s “super app” WeChat, which offers its over 1.3 billion users a mix of social media, messaging, and payment services.
In an audio clip obtained by The Verge, Musk had stated:
“When I say payments, I actually mean someone’s entire financial life,” according to audio of the meeting obtained by The Verge. “If it involves money, it’ll be on our platform. Money or securities or whatever. So it’s not just, like, send $20 to my friend. I’m talking about, like, you won’t need a bank account.”
X Payments has received money transfer approval in 28 states, as the company’s website revealed. Nonetheless, it aims for a full operational license in all 50 states, noting that it is a multiyear process. Additionally, the platform indicated plans to secure permission for cross-border money transfers.