X to Add Trading Buttons for Cryptocurrencies and Stocks

X is preparing to add trading buttons alongside cryptocurrency and stock market data displayed within its social-media feed, according to former product chief Nikita Bier.

The feature would allow users to buy and sell cryptocurrencies and stocks directly from their timelines, moving X closer to Elon Musk's long-standing objective of turning the platform into an 'everything app' combining communications, media, payments, and financial services.

Bier said on August 25 that 'trade buttons' are coming soon to X's Cashtags feature, which already allows users to embed and view cryptocurrency charts directly inside posts.

Cashtags is a feature that lets users search for stocks and cryptocurrencies and view real-time price charts and related posts without leaving the platform. Crypto support extends beyond major ticker symbols, allowing users to enter smart-contract addresses, which enables X to distinguish between tokens sharing similar names and display data for smaller on-chain assets.

The trading component has been planned for months, with Bier saying in February that Smart Cashtags would eventually allow users to trade stocks and cryptocurrencies directly from their timelines. However, he clarified at the time that X would not itself handle trade execution or operate as a brokerage.