A new feature called Smart Cashtags, introduced by X's product manager Nikita Bier, suggests the platform is going beyond simple market commentary, aiming to become a real-time gateway for monitoring and, potentially, trading stocks and crypto assets.
Initial reactions on X (formerly Twitter) suggest the Elon Musk-led social platform is preparing to turn financial conversations into concrete opportunities for action.
Smart cashtag: everything users of X need to know
Emphasizing that X is the best source of financial news, Bier highlighted that hundreds of billions of dollars have already been moved based on information read by users on the platform.
Smart Cashtags, explained, serve to formalize this influence. Rather than generic $TICKER mentions, users will be able to tag specific assets or even particular smart contracts. From the timeline, tapping a cashtag will display the real-time asset price alongside all related mentions on X.
This shift is significant because it redefines X's role: from a mere amplifier of social discussions to a genuine financial infrastructure. Preview examples of the feature include:
Traditional stocks, such as Berkshire Hathaway $BRK.B
Crypto tokens, including the meme coin on the Solana network $BONK
All this data is displayed in posts with the updated real-time price.
The public release of the feature is expected in February 2026, following a phase of iteration guided by user feedback.
The function's strongly crypto-native footprint has drawn particular attention. Bier confirmed that the API powering Smart Cashtags will be "almost real-time for everything created on-chain."
This opens the possibility that low-cap tokens and newly launched DeFi assets (often absent in traditional data providers) could be displayed alongside blue-chip stocks.
Users immediately asked for more details on possible integrations with decentralized data sources; Bier reinforced that on-chain coverage is a priority.
Transform X from a marketplace megaphone into a trading gateway
What has truly fueled speculation, however, is what might come next. Screenshots shared alongside Bier's announcement show buy and sell buttons associated with certain assets, prompting analysts to question whether X intends to integrate trading directly.
Analyst AB Kuai Dong stated that the viral post has fueled widespread belief that X could become an access point for both stock and crypto trading. This could happen through partnerships with Coinbase, Base, and traditional financial intermediaries.
"Currently, the English-speaking community hypothesizes that there will likely be a collaboration with Coinbase and stock brokers. Twitter provides the entry point, while Coinbase, Base APP, and traditional stock brokers provide the underlying trading support," explained analyst Kuai Dong.
In this model, X (Twitter) would handle asset discovery, while trading operations would be executed by regulated platforms.
Others envision a more ambitious scenario. Kuai Dong suggested that Elon Musk might eventually build an exchange or internal matching system himself, noting that X Money has been in preparation for nearly a year.
Some users have picked up on the idea, wondering if future versions could include self-custodial wallets, integrations with DEXs, or regional broker connections that route trading activities to the user's chosen provider.
Meanwhile, crypto industry operators are already moving. Solana representatives have publicly invited X to explore infrastructure centered around Solana.
Meanwhile, various crypto analysts argue that Smart Cashtags could shorten the entire trading journey—from discovery to execution—to a single tap. Crypto researcher Kryll highlighted that every mentioned asset could become a conversion point when the price is directly integrated into the social discussion.
X's financial expansion meets regulation
However, this release comes as regulatory scrutiny of X intensifies, with the platform now facing:
Extended preservation orders from the EU related to algorithmic transparency
An ongoing investigation by French authorities into alleged algorithmic bias, and
A recent fine of 120 million euros (140 million dollars) imposed under the Digital Services Act.
In this context, Musk's promise to make X's recommendation algorithm open source, updated every four weeks, seems to signal transparency precisely as the platform strengthens its financial influence.
Meanwhile, Smart Cashtags remain a preview feature. However, combined with X Money, crypto-native data, and speculation around trading, they reignite concerns that this is another step toward an everything app, where conversations, markets, and money merge into a single feed.
