Scrolling through a social feed is usually about news, jokes, or quick reactions to what’s happening in the world. But X (formerly Twitter) appears to be testing an idea that could turn that everyday habit into something far more consequential.
The platform is teasing a feature called Smart Cashtags that could let users track crypto prices and potentially trade digital assets without ever leaving the app. If it works, crypto wouldn’t just live on exchanges and finance apps anymore. It would sit directly inside the social timelines where people already spend hours each day.
Smart Cashtags is expected to launch next month. In a post on X, the platform’s head of product, Nikita Bier, explained that the upgrade will let users “specify the exact asset or smart contract when posting a ticker.” From there, anyone tapping a cashtag would be able to see real-time prices alongside all posts linked to that asset. In simple terms, a crypto symbol inside a post becomes interactive instead of static text.
What really caught attention, however, was a screenshot Bier shared. Alongside the price data were visible buy and sell buttons. X hasn't officially confirmed in-app crypto trading, but the interface strongly suggests that direct buying and selling could be part of the plan.
What In-App Crypto Trading on X Might Look Like
X hasn't explained how trading would actually work. One open question is whether the platform would build its own trading infrastructure or route transactions through an existing crypto exchange. That decision matters, especially when it comes to regulation, user protection, and custody of funds.
What's clear is the scale involved. X has roughly 600 million users worldwide, and even limited crypto functionality inside the app could expose digital assets to an enormous new audience.
But there are still major hurdles. Crypto trading rules vary widely by country, and X would need the proper licences and partners to operate legally. Payments infrastructure is another challenge, particularly if users are expected to move money in and out seamlessly.
Cashtags themselves aren't new to X. They first appeared in late 2022, allowing users to tap symbols like $BTC or $ETH to view price charts. Those earlier versions, powered by partners such as TradingView and later eToro, were designed for information, not transactions. Smart Cashtags appear to be the next step. Instead of simply showing prices, they hint at direct interaction with the asset itself.
X’s Broader Push Into Finance
This move fits neatly into Elon Musk’s long-stated ambition to turn X into an everything app. Beyond social posts, the company has been quietly laying the groundwork for financial services. X has secured money-transmission licences in more than 20 U.S. states, even though it has yet to fully launch its payments products.
Reports last year also suggested that X is working on X Money, a digital wallet and peer-to-peer payment service, with Visa named as its first major partner. If crypto trading becomes part of this ecosystem, it would place payments, social interaction, and financial markets inside a single platform.
For crypto, that kind of integration could be transformative. Digital assets have long struggled with usability and trust. Embedding them inside a familiar social app could lower the barrier for people who are curious but cautious.
Still, many questions remain unanswered. Until X clearly explains how trading would work and how users would be protected, Smart Cashtags remain more promise than reality. But if X follows through, it could mark one of the most significant shifts yet in how everyday users encounter and interact with crypto.
David Adubiina
