TL;DR
- The X app code reveals upcoming support for a physical debit card linked to the X Money payments service.
- App code references card activation, PIN setup, shipping status, lost/stolen reporting, and locking features.
- X CEO Linda Yaccarino confirmed Visa as the first partner for instant funding via Visa Direct.
- X is aggressively expanding money transmitter licenses across the U.S., now licensed in 40 states plus D.C.
- Code also suggests support for MasterCard and American Express, cashback rewards, deferred debit options, and separate virtual/physical card management.
- Elon Musk’s vision for X as an “everything app” includes payments, banking, investments, and trading.
Introduction: X’s Expansion Into Payments and Banking
The social media app formerly known as Twitter, now rebranded as X, is stepping boldly into fintech. New insights from AppSensa, a mobile app intelligence firm, reveal that X is preparing to launch a physical debit card tied to its upcoming X Money payments platform.
The code updates in the X app include references to card shipping status, activation, PIN setup, locking and unlocking, and lost or stolen reporting. This shows X’s clear intention to offer users a physical card experience alongside its existing digital wallet features.
X Money and Visa Partnership
In January 2025, X CEO Linda Yaccarino announced Visa as the first partner for X Money. The partnership enables users to instantly fund their X Wallet accounts through Visa Direct, supporting seamless peer-to-peer (P2P) payments and instant bank transfers.
Yaccarino highlighted that this would be “the first of many” major announcements around X Money in 2025, signaling X’s growing ambition to compete broadly with digital banks and other fintech players.
Expanding Money Transmitter Licenses Across the U.S.
To support its fintech ambitions, X has been aggressively registering for money transmitter licenses across the United States. From just 12 states at the end of 2023, the company now holds licenses in 40 states plus Washington, D.C. This regulatory groundwork is critical for enabling nationwide payment services and card issuance.
X Money Licenses Growth
| Date | States Licensed | Source |
| Dec 2023 | 12 States + D.C. | TechCrunch |
| June 2025 | 40 States + D.C. | AppSensa |
Features Suggested by App Code
The newly discovered app code includes references to several key features:
- “physical_card_option” and “physical” indicating a dedicated physical card product.
- Cashback rewards and deferred debit capabilities.
- The ability to cancel virtual and physical cards independently, enhancing user control.
- Support for multiple card brands including MasterCard and American Express, suggesting partnerships beyond Visa.
Elon Musk’s Vision: From Social Media to Super App
Elon Musk, owner of X, has long envisioned the app as much more than a social network. In November 2022, he shared plans to transform X into an “everything app” featuring payments, banking, creator content, and video services.
Musk’s fintech experience dates back to his founding of X.com, which merged with Confinity to become PayPal. After reacquiring the X.com domain in 2017, Musk rebranded Twitter as X in 2023, aligning with his vision for a super app.
Last year, X introduced a Payments button on its main navigation, hinting at deeper payments integration.
What’s Next for X Money?
Though X has not revealed an exact launch date, Yaccarino stated in January that more announcements are coming “later this year.” She also told the Financial Times that investments and trading services will be part of X’s growing super app strategy, potentially making it a comprehensive fintech hub.
Conclusion
X’s move to introduce a physical debit card signals a significant evolution in its fintech ambitions. With growing regulatory licenses, multi-brand card support, and instant funding partnerships, X Money aims to compete aggressively with established digital banks and payment platforms.
Elon Musk’s long-term vision of an “everything app” is closer to reality, as X expands from social media roots into a full-fledged financial ecosystem, offering payments, banking, investing, and more.
