The social platform X has quietly removed the option to set NFTs as profile pictures, as noted by TechCrunch.
This feature was introduced under Twitter’s previous management in January 2022. The company allowed subscribers of the premium service Twitter Blue to use Ethereum-based non-fungible tokens as PFP. Verified avatars were displayed in a hexagonal shape instead of the usual circle.
Clicking on the image provided information about the NFT used, including the collection, contract address, TokenID, and the application through which the token was issued.
The platform has removed all descriptions of the feature from the X Premium support page (the current name for Twitter Blue).
Discontinued support for NFT profile pics on @X is a step back for the industry. Reduced utility is always a loss. NFT PFPs weren’t widely used but it was an MVP and never got the treatment it deserved: communities, message signing and features built around proof of ownership.
— Jesse Powell (@jespow) January 10, 2024
“Discontinuing support for NFT profile pictures is a step back for the industry. Reduced utility is always a loss. The NFT PFP option wasn’t widely adopted but was an MVP and never received the attention it deserved: communities, message signing, and features built around proof of ownership,” commented Kraken co-founder Jesse Powell.
Elon Musk and Twitter
Almost immediately after the integration of NFT avatars on Twitter, Elon Musk criticized the option. In his view, the company was wasting engineering resources.
Back in April 2022, the billionaire became the largest shareholder of the social network, purchasing 9.2% of the company’s shares for $2.89 billion. He soon proposed to acquire it entirely to create an “inclusive arena for free speech.”
The crypto community welcomed his intentions with enthusiasm. For instance, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong and Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin expressed support for Musk’s decision.
In October 2022, the billionaire completed the acquisition of the platform for $44 billion.
In July 2023, Musk rebranded the platform, changing its name from Twitter to X and abandoning the iconic blue bird.
Before acquiring the social network, the entrepreneur deemed the integration of digital payments into it logical. However, despite rumors and speculation, this has not occurred under Musk’s leadership.
Only in January 2023 did it become known that the company had applied for a payment license. In December, Musk confirmed that X is awaiting regulatory approval and plans to launch the relevant services no earlier than mid-2024.
In a podcast with ARK Invest CEO Cathie Wood, the entrepreneur stated that he is “open to the idea of using Bitcoin on X.” However, he described the first cryptocurrency as unsuitable for payments and more akin to gold.
NFTs and Other Social Networks
In May 2022, Meta began experimenting with integrating NFTs into the social network Instagram as profile pictures.
The pilot project was initially aimed at a limited group of users in the United States, but by August, the corporation expanded it to an additional 100 countries. At that time, Meta also included Facebook in its NFT initiative.
In September, American users of the company’s social platforms gained the ability to post digital collectibles. Later, Meta announced the option to create and sell NFTs on Instagram. The project partnered with the Polygon blockchain team.
However, in March 2023, the corporation shut down all initiatives related to non-fungible tokens.
In November 2023, Musk stated that NFTs “are not even on the blockchain,” being merely a URL to a JPEG file. In response, an enthusiast posted his video quote on the Bitcoin network as an “inscription” on the Ordinals protocol.