Elon Musk Halts X Monetization Overhaul: Crypto Creators Breathe Easy

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Elon Musk Pauses X Monetization Overhaul Amid Global Backlash: What It Means for Crypto Creators

Elon Musk paused changes to how X pays creators after creators outside the US said the new rules would unfairly punish those who post in English.

Nikita Bier, Head of Product at X, announced a change taking effect on Thursday. The update will prioritize views from creators’ local areas, aiming to prevent accounts outside the US and Japan from unfairly targeting users in those countries.

Why Creators Pushed Back

The reaction was immediate, and creators in Europe, Africa, and smaller countries expressed concern that content prioritizing English would suffer the most.

Beginning this Thursday, we’re changing how we reward creators through revenue sharing. We want to prioritize content that performs well locally, so we’ll be giving more weight to views from your country and nearby regions. This will encourage content that’s relevant and engaging for people in your area…

— Nikita Bier (@nikitabier) March 25, 2026

Déborah, a creator based in France, asked X (formerly Twitter) to rethink something, noting that 43% of her followers are in the United States.

Déborah pointed out that the change also unfairly affects many accounts that simply use the language normally, without meaning any harm.

A user in Portugal pointed out that some countries don’t have a large enough audience to generate significant income. X’s representative, Bier, replied that while they support local content creation, they won’t pay to distribute American political opinions internationally.

We’ve noticed very few users in certain countries. I believe it’s unfair to penalize people simply because they have a large audience internationally. (Please, no bans!)

— 𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐔𝐍𝐄𝐒 (@Antunes1) March 25, 2026

What the Pause Preserves for Crypto

Most crypto-related discussions on X (formerly Twitter) happen in English, even though the platform is used worldwide. Talk about Bitcoin, Ethereum, and DeFi isn’t limited by language or country – it’s a global conversation.

Currently, X pays creators around $8.50 for every million views of their Premium content, no matter where those views come from. The amount of money available for creators to earn has also been doubled for 2026.

If the new earnings system had been implemented, creators in countries like Kenya, Nigeria, and Portugal – or other smaller advertising markets – would have experienced a decrease in revenue, even if they had significant audiences in the US. Elon Musk’s quick decision to change course means the current system will remain in place.

We will pause moving forward with this until further consideration

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 25, 2026

X is still working to reduce spam and fake activity designed to boost engagement. They may reintroduce a more focused policy that distinguishes between harmful accounts and genuine creators around the world.

As a researcher following developments on X, I can confirm that the incentives for crypto content creators haven’t changed. We don’t anticipate any impact on the market or pricing due to the recent pause in related features.

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2026-03-25 11:11