X Quietly Removes NFT Profile Picture Feature

Elon Musk‘s company, X, has unveiled an ambitious vision for 2024, focusing on peer-to-peer payments and AI-powered tools. Amidst this grand announcement, a discreet change has come to light, affecting X’s premium subscribers: the removal of the ability to set NFTs as profile pictures.

X has quietly scrubbed all mentions of the NFT profile picture feature from its Premium support page, leaving subscribers in the dark about this unexpected change.

A Quiet Removal
Originally introduced under Twitter’s previous management in January 2022, the NFT profile picture feature allowed Twitter Blue subscribers to display Ethereum-minted NFTs (ERC-721 or ERC-1155 tokens) in hexagonal profile pictures. Users could interact with these images, gaining access to NFT details like collection, contract address, TokenID, and minting app.

The now-removed description on X’s website stated:
“As a Premium subscriber, you can create a customize [sic] your profile so you can show off the NFTs you own in a hex-shaped profile picture on your account. After a temporary connection to your crypto wallet that allows you to set up an NFT as your profile picture, your digital asset displays in a special hexagon shape that identifies you as the owner of that NFT”

Existing Users Left Uncertain
Existing users who had adopted NFT profile pictures still retain their hexagonal avatars. However, it remains unclear whether X plans to eventually phase out these displays.

Aligning with a Broader Trend
This move aligns with a broader trend as other social networks, including Instagram and Facebook, experimented with NFT integration in 2022, only to retract support by March 2023.

A Potential Opportunity for SocialFi Platforms
While this decision may disappoint some NFT enthusiasts, it presents a potential opportunity for SocialFi platforms to cater to those who wish to retain their NFTs as profile pictures.

Related article: Revolutionizing Equity: NFTs as Company Shares