X Tests New Chat Feature That Could Pave the Way for Payments

Elon Musk is back on his “everything app” mission, and the latest update to X’s messaging system is the first major step. The new “Chat” experience is now in beta, complete with end-to-end encryption and a 4-digit code for added security. Basically, your DMs are getting locked down, not just for privacy, but for payments.

Why? Because Musk isn’t just rebuilding messaging, he’s laying the groundwork to turn your inbox into a mini bank. Think: sending money like a text, storing funds in the app, maybe even skipping your actual bank one day.

Sound familiar? It’s straight out of the WeChat playbook, China’s go-to app for chatting, shopping, banking, and everything in between. Musk has hinted at this kind of “super app” since the early PayPal days. Now, he’s finally making moves.

But here’s the catch: no one’s really nailed this in the West. Meta tried with Messenger + Facebook Pay + Libra. That dream fizzled. Regulatory headaches, user confusion, you name it. The vision was there, but the adoption? Not so much.

Still, if anyone’s going to bet big on blending messages and money, it’s Elon. And while we don’t know exactly how this will unfold, he’s made one thing clear:

“When people’s savings are involved, extreme care must be taken.”

Will Chat be the Trojan horse for X’s financial future? Or just another bold experiment? Stay tuned in..