X announced on September 2, 2026 that all U.S. creator payouts will now be processed through X Money, the platform’s in-house payments service, replacing the previous Stripe-powered system.
The change affects payouts from both X’s Original Content Rewards Program and creators’ subscriptions. According to X, payments through X Money are instant — creators can access funds the moment they are sent, with no waiting period and no minimum payout threshold. Previously, payments were processed every two weeks and required a minimum of $30 before a creator could withdraw earnings.
Creators who already have an X Money account require no action; their next payout will be sent there automatically. Those not yet on X Money will need to set up an account to continue receiving payments. The announcement’s wording suggests creators have no alternative payout option, meaning the platform may be requiring adoption of X Money rather than offering it as a choice. X has been asked for clarification.
The shift is part of broader changes to X’s creator programs. On September 7, X will retire its Creator Revenue Sharing Program, which stopped accepting new members last month. Creators are being migrated to the Original Content Rewards Program, which places greater emphasis on original content.
X Money, which forms part of owner Elon Musk’s stated goal of turning X into an “everything app,” includes a bank card with 3% cash back, instant payments, and free ATM withdrawals. Accounts are held at FDIC-insured Cross River Bank. X Premium users receive a 6% APY rate, compared to a standard 4% rate, and creator payouts will count toward the direct deposit requirements needed to qualify for the higher rate.
X also noted it will issue 1099-NEC forms to individual creators receiving payouts, and will collect W-9 information from LLCs to ensure accurate tax reporting.
Source: TechCrunch