US creators on X now have only one way to get paid: X Money. Stripe is out, instant payouts are in, and there are no alternative options.
US creators on X woke up to a new rule: all payouts now go through X Money, the platform’s own payments service. Stripe, which previously handled creator payments, is no longer available for American users. The change is immediate and leaves no way to opt out.
As of September 2, 2026, X has officially ended Stripe payouts for US creators, making X Money the sole payment channel for Original Content Rewards and subscriptions.
But with the faster payouts comes a loss of choice. X’s update makes it clear: US creators must use X Money. A company spokesperson confirmed this, while creators outside the US can still use Stripe for now. According to TechCrunch, US creators who don’t connect to X Money won’t get paid.
This change comes as X is shutting down its Creator Revenue Sharing Program, which ends on September 7, 2026. The platform is pushing creators toward the Original Content Rewards Program, which focuses on original material and stopped taking new members last month. The timing isn’t random-X is consolidating control over both content and payments. As Crypto Briefing reports, the move to X Money lines up with the final phase-out of the old revenue sharing model.
The shift to X Money brings a key operational change: creators now receive their earnings instantly, replacing the previous two-week payout cycle and eliminating the $30 minimum threshold. For creators outside the US, Stripe remains the payment processor for now, but X has signaled a broader move toward its own financial infrastructure.
Tax reporting is built in. Individuals who get creator payouts will receive a 1099-NEC, and LLCs must provide W-9 details. X’s documentation is clear: to earn on the platform in the US, you have to use X Money. As Firstpost notes, these payouts also count toward direct deposit requirements for X Money’s high-yield accounts.
For creators, the upside is instant access to earnings, no minimums, and a simpler process. But the lack of choice and forced switch to X’s own system show how the company is tightening its control over the creator economy. X is now setting both the rules and the payment rails. This fits with Musk’s broader push to reshape how the platform handles money and content, as covered in our earlier reporting. The message to creators is clear: adapt to X’s system or miss out on payouts.
X, formerly Twitter, reported over 500 million monthly active users worldwide as of early 2026. Since Elon Musk bought the company in 2022, X has expanded into payments, subscriptions, and digital banking. Cross River Bank, which holds X Money accounts, manages over $15 billion in assets and works with several US fintech platforms.
