X just launched a beta for revamped chat features, and if you read between the lines, this isn’t really about messaging. It’s about money. Lots of it.

What’s Actually Happening
X is rolling out a new “Chat” experience that feels suspiciously over-engineered for regular DMs. We’re talking encryption, four-digit security codes, and a complete backend rebuild. Why all the security theater for sliding into someone’s DMs? Because these aren’t just going to be DMs for much longer. These are the building blocks for Elon’s ambitious “X Payments” or rather “X Money.”

The WeChat Dream (Again)
This is Elon’s latest attempt to build a Western version of WeChat–the Chinese super-app that handles messaging, food delivery, and more.. It’s the “everything app” vision he’s been talking about since he bought Twitter. But here’s the catch: This has been tried before. Many times.

Been There, Done That (Facebook Style)
Remember when Facebook tried to become WeChat? Back in 2016, they rebuilt Messenger with the same vision. They launched Facebook Pay, planned their own cryptocurrency (Libra), and dreamed of building a financial ecosystem. The result? Facebook Pay still exists, technically, but nobody uses it. The crypto project died under regulatory pressure. The WeChat dream became a cautionary tale.

What This Means for Users
If you’re in the beta, you’re essentially test-driving the foundation of a future financial platform. Today, it’s encrypted DMs with fancy security codes. Tomorrow, it could be sending your rent money through the same app you used to subtweet your boss.

You can read more here.