Twitter Removes Feature to Set NFT as Profile Picture

Twitter removes feature to set NFT as profile picture

Based on information from some users on Twitter, it seems that the social network has stopped supporting NFTs as profile pictures.

Specifically, many Twitter users, using NFTs as avatars, reported that their photo frames were converted to a circular shape instead of remaining hexagonal as before.

Furthermore, the social network has also removed the NFT keyword from its customer support page.

NFT avatars on Twitter in the past

And at January 10, 2024

Previously, when users of social network X linked their crypto wallet containing NFTs, they could utilize that NFT as a profile picture with a hexagonal frame, distinguishing it from the usual circular profile picture.

Placing NFTs as avatars has previously been seen as a way to show cryptocurrency acceptance as well as “flaunt” by many investors. Owning a hexagon avatar combined with expensive NFTs has become a way for many investors to show off the value of their assets.

The feature to set NFTs as profile pictures was first introduced by Twitter on January 20, 2022, recently passing two years, as one of the last creations of former CEO Jack Dorsey before he stepped down. Twitter was then sold to billionaire Elon Musk in October of the same year. Mr. Musk is said to have canceled many of the social network’s cryptocurrency integration plans, including the release of a cryptocurrency and a separate cryptocurrency wallet platform.

X’s new owner also criticized the NFT profile picture feature when it first launched, saying Twitter was focusing too much on unnecessary things, ignoring the problem of spam and bot accounts.

This is annoying pic.twitter.com/KAkDl29CTX

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 21, 2022

It is still unclear whether X (Twitter) has actually stopped supporting NFT avatars or if this is just a temporary fluctuation. Many users are expressing regret if this is an official decision, because a social network with a large number of users like Twitter supporting NFTs is an important step in the process of cryptocurrency adoption.

CEO of Kraken exchange, Jesse Powell, shared his opinion:

Discontinued support for NFT profile pics on @X is a step back for the industry. Reduced utility is always a loss. NFT PFPs weren’t widely used but it was an MVP and never got the treatment it deserved: communities, message signing and features built around proof of ownership.

— Jesse Powell (@jespow) January 10, 2024

X discontinuing support for NFTs is a setback for the cryptocurrency industry. It’s always a loss when functionality is removed. Although NFT profile pictures may not have gained widespread acceptance, they remain a viable product and haven’t reached their full potential as initially envisioned: community engagement, message signing with NFTs, and other features revolve around digital ownership rights.

Meta, the company that manages two other popular social networks, Facebook and Instagram, also announced that NFTs will be allowed as avatars in March 2023, just half a year after this feature was launched.