X's new handle marketplace for Premium+ splits usernames into priority and rare tiers, with prices from $2,500 and activity rules that let X reclaim names.
© A. Krivonosov
X has officially opened its handle marketplace to Premium+ subscribers, and the moment it went live one thing became clear: plenty of dormant usernames are now within reach, but the path to them is anything but straightforward. The marketplace splits listings into two buckets — priority and rare. Priority handles are meant to help people claim a username that closely matches their real name; in practice, the criteria for that label feel opaque.
Even a $40-per-month subscription doesn’t guarantee the handle you want. One user who checked @kbell and @karissa was told both are classified as rare and can’t be requested directly. The only option is to file a request and explain why you should get that name.
X puts words, slang, short usernames, and high-value names in the rare tier. Searches turn up future prizes such as @memelord, @phone, @gr0k, and @AIchat. But they’ll go only to people X admits to a public drop or invites to purchase individually, with prices starting at $2,500 and stretching into seven figures.
At the same time, some priority handles already available are on the playful side: @six_seven, @elonfarts, @grokfacts, and @kbchat. X lets each account request such a handle only once for its entire lifetime, so it’s a one-shot decision.
Claiming a new username also comes with a list of obligations. To keep it, users are expected to post original content, take part in conversations, stay visibly active, and sign in at least once every 30 days. Otherwise, X reserves the right to seize the handle and pass it to someone more active. The terms state that the platform owns all usernames and can reclaim any of them at any time.
With all those constraints and the Premium+ price tag, many people are opting out of the scramble and sticking with their old handles — free, familiar, and not bound by strict rules.