X Launches “Handles” Marketplace to Auction Inactive Twitter Usernames

X, formerly known as Twitter, has turned 18 years old, and as part of its latest move to revitalize the platform, the company has launched a new site called Handles, a dedicated marketplace where users can bid for inactive or abandoned usernames.

Through Handles, Premium+ and Premium Business subscribers can now express interest in acquiring unused accounts. Premium Business users will get priority access, allowing them to submit requests earlier than Premium+ subscribers. Once approved, they can claim and use the desired handle, provided they maintain their Premium Business subscription.

For short or highly desirable usernames, X plans to make them available through invitation or limited-time auctions. According to the company, these exclusive handles will be priced from as low as USD 2,500, with some potentially reaching seven-figure values depending on their rarity and appeal.

The launch of Handles marks X’s latest step toward monetizing its legacy user base while cleaning up inactive accounts, and it could spark a new wave of competition for rare, one-word usernames long thought to be lost to time.