X weighs stablecoin creator payouts as USDC market tops $301B

X, Elon Musk's social platform, is exploring stablecoin payments for creators, with Circle's USDC among options under consideration, as the total stablecoin market has grown to more than $301 billion.

CoinDesk reported Aug. 20, citing a person familiar with the discussions, that X is internally reviewing a plan to distribute creator earnings using stablecoins such as USDC. Talks are ongoing, and the payout method and launch timing have not been determined, the report said.

The move comes as X phases out its ad-based Revenue Sharing program in favor of the Original Content Rewards Program, which rewards users for original reporting, ideas, and creative content rather than views and ad income. Stablecoins could let X send small payments quickly across borders without relying on local banking systems, a practical advantage for its global creator base. SpaceX, Musk's space company, has already adopted stablecoins for Starlink payments in emerging markets, according to venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya, who said in December 2024 that the setup helped SpaceX avoid foreign exchange exposure and international wire fees.

If X selects USDC, it would give Circle a major distribution channel and push stablecoin payments further into mainstream consumer platforms. X has secured U.S. payment licenses and partnered with Visa on digital wallet services as part of Musk's plan to turn the platform into an "everything app" where users can communicate, shop, and manage money.

Meta's parallel push into stablecoin payouts

Meta, X's rival, has begun paying select creators in USDC on Solana and Polygon, reviving its stablecoin push after the collapse of its Libra/Diem project, according to the CoinDesk report. X also hired Benji Taylor, who oversaw design at Coinbase's layer-2 blockchain Base, as head of design in March.

X has not officially announced a USDC-based creator payment system, and the company has not revealed how the system would work, when it could launch, or whether USDC will ultimately be selected.

Stablecoins are digital tokens pegged to traditional currencies, typically the U.S. dollar, and are designed to maintain a 1:1 value with their reference asset. The total stablecoin market has grown to more than $301 billion, according to industry data, showing how widely digital dollars are now used for payments and transfers.

The potential integration comes as stablecoin issuers compete for real-world payment use cases beyond crypto trading. Circle has been expanding USDC's reach through partnerships with payment processors and fintech platforms, while Tether, the largest stablecoin issuer, has focused on emerging markets and commodity trading. A deal with X would give Circle a direct channel to hundreds of millions of users.

If X moves forward with stablecoin payouts, it would mark one of the largest social media platforms to adopt crypto-based creator compensation, potentially setting a precedent for other platforms and strengthening the case for stablecoins as a mainstream payment rail. For Circle, a USDC integration with X would add a significant consumer-facing use case beyond trading and DeFi, potentially driving further demand for the token.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.