X Launches Self-Custodial Bitcoin Tipping Through BitBit Integration

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Elon Musk’s social media platform X has rolled out a new Bitcoin tipping feature in partnership with BitBit, marking a major step toward its ambition of becoming an “everything app.” The update allows users to send and receive Bitcoin tips directly through the platform as BTC trades around $115,000.

Self-Custodial Bitcoin Payments Go Live

BitBit announced on Monday that its integration with X will enable global peer-to-peer Bitcoin tipping via a self-custodial wallet. The solution runs on Chrome-compatible browsers and leverages Spark technology, developed by Lightspark, to streamline Bitcoin transactions without the technical hurdles typically associated with the Lightning Network.

“This integration is about making money move as easily as information on the open Internet,” said David Marcus, co-founder and CEO of Lightspark. Unlike X’s earlier tipping features introduced in 2021, this is the platform’s first fully self-custodial solution, giving users complete control over their funds. Tip recipients will have 21 days to activate a wallet before unclaimed funds are automatically refunded.

Accelerating X Money’s Development

The launch ties into X’s broader financial ecosystem strategy, known as X Money, which is expected to debut in 2025. The project aims to mirror the success of China’s WeChat by embedding payments, commerce, and social features into a single super-app. Former X CEO Linda Yaccarino previously confirmed the company’s roadmap toward this transformation.

Market and User Impact

Analysts have compared the development to PayPal’s entry into cryptocurrency in 2021, which significantly influenced Bitcoin’s market trajectory. With X’s 500 million global users, the move could drive adoption by making Bitcoin transactions accessible within a familiar social environment.

BitBit’s founder and CEO, Felipe Servin, emphasized accessibility as a core principle: “We’re meeting users where they already are, instead of expecting them to learn new technologies.”

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