Musk's Million-Dollar Creative Bounty: The Revival of Long-Form Content and the Ambition for an Everything App

marsbitPublished on 2026-01-19Last updated on 2026-01-19

Abstract

Elon Musk's X (formerly Twitter) has launched a "$1 Million Article Challenge" in early 2026, aiming to incentivize long-form content creation on the platform. This move comes amid growing competitive pressure from Meta’s Threads, which has surpassed X in global daily active users (DAU) and is rapidly closing the gap in the U.S. market. X’s advertising revenue has also significantly declined since Musk’s acquisition. The push for long-form content is strategic: X’s algorithm favors content that increases "user time well spent," and long articles naturally keep users engaged longer. This approach supports Musk’s vision of making X the "earth’s first news source" and provides high-quality training data for his AI project, Grok. Despite global trends toward fragmented reading, X is betting on a revival of in-depth content to boost platform stickiness and attract professional creators. This effort is part of a broader ambition to transform X into an "Everything App" like WeChat. However, X still lags far behind in user base, engagement time, and functional diversity. Musk’s anxiety is palpable as he races to enrich X’s ecosystem and realize his super-app vision.

Entering 2026, X (Twitter) has been making frequent moves. While we can't see if anxiety is written on Musk's face, we can see Musk's anxiety written in his tweets.

And last weekend, X officially launched a "Million-Dollar Article Bounty Activity," sparking a wave of "long-form content fever" on the platform.

Currently, the most impactful article is from DAN KOE titled "How to Fix Your Life in 1 Day." This article has already garnered over 150 million reads and received a retweet from Musk.

It has been several years since Musk acquired X. Why is he now vigorously promoting X's creator ecosystem this year? In an era where global user reading habits are fragmented, why choose long-form content as the key focus? And can the revival of long-form content truly support Musk's ambition for an Everything App?

Musk's Anxiety

Every family has its own troubles; even geniuses have anxieties to face. The relentless pressure from competitors and X's own financial performance have made even the old Musk restless.

X is facing fierce competition in user growth and engagement, especially from Meta's Threads, which has seen rapid growth since its launch in 2023 and has already surpassed or closed in on X in several metrics.

According to the latest data released by analytics firm Similarweb in early January 2026, Threads' global mobile daily active users (DAU) have exceeded X's, averaging 143.2 million, compared to X's 126.2 million. In terms of growth trends, X's global DAU decreased by 11.9% year-over-year, while Threads achieved a staggering 37.8% growth. Even in X's home market, the United States, although X still leads with 21.2 million DAU compared to Threads' 19.5 million, the gap is narrowing rapidly, with the latter's annual growth rate reaching 41.8%, while X's fell by 18.4%.

Threads also performs excellently in monthly active users (MAU). As of January 2026, its MAU has reached 320 million, growing from 350 million to 400 million in 2025. In comparison, although X's MAU still has a scale of about 611 million, it has lost approximately 32 million users since Musk's acquisition. This shifting dynamic undoubtedly puts immense pressure on Musk.

The decline in user data directly impacts X's core revenue source—advertising. According to public data, X's global advertising revenue dropped to $2.5 billion in 2024, nearly halving from $4.4 billion in 2022. Although it is expected to rebound slightly to $2.26 billion in 2025, the overall downward trend remains evident, with some institutions predicting it will only recover to $2.7 billion by 2027.

Meanwhile, competitor Threads is highly favored by the capital markets. Analysts predict that Threads' advertising revenue could reach $11.3 billion in 2026, several times that of X's projected revenue. Although X achieved quarterly revenue growth at the end of 2025, the company as a whole remains in a loss-making state due to high restructuring costs.

Although subscription users (X Premium) saw significant growth in 2025, their revenue contribution is far below Musk's initial goal of "50% of total revenue." Therefore, X has directly linked the growth of Premium subscriptions to creator earnings, not only offering higher creator payouts but also explicitly basing the earnings calculation on paid user views (Verified Home Timeline impressions). This incentivizes creators to produce high-quality content that attracts paying users, thereby driving more users to subscribe to Premium services.

This ultimately led to the "Million-Dollar Article Bounty Activity" initiated by old Musk, akin to buying a千里马骨 (a metaphor for attracting talent with high rewards). Users in the Chinese region jokingly say that old Musk is running an American "New Concept Essay Competition" in 2026.

The Revival of Long-Form Content

Musk's choice to make long articles the breakthrough for X's creator ecosystem is not a whim but a deep strategic consideration based on X platform's positioning.

Currently, X's recommendation algorithm has a core metric—"regret-free user time," which is the total effective time users spend on a piece of content. Musk explicitly stated that this mechanism naturally favors long-form content because it can "accumulate more user seconds," thereby increasing the content's algorithmic weight and the platform's overall user engagement.

Long articles, by providing depth, context, and complete narratives, naturally extend user dwell time, contrasting sharply with the quick consumption mode of short posts or短视频. Recent algorithm updates have even introduced "content format weighting," explicitly favoring long-form content that requires more creative effort and has greater impact. This is not only an incentive for creators but also a data-driven decision: high-quality long articles can reduce user jumps to external links, keep users longer within the platform, and also provide more high-quality training data for Musk's AI project, Grok AI.

Musk has also repeatedly emphasized his hope to make X the "number one news source on Earth," replacing traditional media by aggregating "collective intelligence" in real-time. The long-form article feature allows users to publish "complete articles or even books," enabling domain experts, event witnesses, and deep creators to share their full insights directly on the platform, rather than fragmented information. At the same time, compared to the huge subsidies for short videos on other platforms, the incentive model for long articles is easier to commercialize through a subscription system, thereby attracting more professional journalists and writers back to the X platform.

However, a question arises. You might ask, given that global users' reading habits are now fragmented, why is old Musk pulling this "Renaissance" move?

It is undeniable that global users' digital reading habits are showing a clear trend towards fragmentation, especially under the impact of short video platforms. Gen Z and other younger groups prefer "fragmented" reading—multiple times a day for 5-10 minutes each time. However, data also shows that people's overall reading volume is actually increasing. As a counter-movement, "slow, immersive reading" is on the rise. Amid digital fatigue, people are beginning to seek depth, emotional connection, and meaningful content consumption.

What X wants is not to become another entertainment platform like TikTok, but to become a "life hub" deeply integrated into the daily life of every American, like WeChat—the "Everything App" that Musk keeps talking about. To achieve this, it is essential to极大地丰富 (greatly enrich) the platform's content and service ecosystem, increase users' "regret-free usage time," give them more reasons to stay on the platform, and complete more tasks here.

The Ambition for an Everything App

All of Musk's efforts ultimately point to a grand goal: to build X into an "Everything App" like WeChat. However, to realize this ambition, X still has a long way to go.

Compared to WeChat, X lags significantly in several key metrics. In terms of monthly active users (MAU), WeChat boasts over 1.4 billion users, while X has only 557 million, less than a third of the former. Such a huge user base gap makes it difficult for X to form the powerful "network effect" that WeChat has—where users cannot leave because all their friends, family, and life services are on the platform. WeChat has become a daily necessity for many, while X, in the eyes of most users, remains a social media platform for getting news and expressing opinions—still the old Twitter, that "American Weibo."

The gap in user stickiness is equally evident. The average daily usage time for WeChat users is as high as 82 minutes, while X users only spend 30-35 minutes. The reason behind this is that users can complete a large number of "productive" tasks within WeChat, such as chatting, payments, shopping, and accessing municipal services, while content consumption on X is still primarily passive browsing, which easily leads to "scroll and leave."

Old Musk doesn't want X to become TikTok, so he first needs to摆脱 (rid X of) the "scroll and leave" entertainment-oriented user experience. He needs high-quality, deep content to enhance user stickiness, attract and retain high-value users, and then, based on this content, gradually嫁接 (graft on) more services like payments and e-commerce, ultimately paving the way to the "Everything App."

And the grander this dream is, the deeper Musk's anxiety will be.

马斯克翻车了！一边告OpenAI，一边偷偷蒸馏ChatGPT

marsbit1h ago

美国RWA是如何攻克房地产、固定收益与供应链金融难题的

marsbit2h ago

US Hits Iran With $500M Crypto Seizure In Major Financial Offensive

bitcoinist2h ago

Crypto Market Still In Fear After Historical Lows, But Can Bitcoin And Ethereum Recover?

bitcoinist3h ago

Here’s How The Bitcoin Price Has Performed In The Last 9 FOMC Meetings And What To Expect Next

bitcoinist5h ago

Trading

Spot

Futures

Hot Articles

What is SONIC

Sonic: Pioneering the Future of Gaming in Web3 Introduction to Sonic In the ever-evolving landscape of Web3, the gaming industry stands out as one of the most dynamic and promising sectors. At the forefront of this revolution is Sonic, a project designed to amplify the gaming ecosystem on the Solana blockchain. Leveraging cutting-edge technology, Sonic aims to deliver an unparalleled gaming experience by efficiently processing millions of requests per second, ensuring that players enjoy seamless gameplay while maintaining low transaction costs. This article delves into the intricate details of Sonic, exploring its creators, funding sources, operational mechanics, and the timeline of significant events that have shaped its journey. What is Sonic? Sonic is an innovative layer-2 network that operates atop the Solana blockchain, specifically tailored to enhance the existing Solana gaming ecosystem. It accomplishes this through a customised, VM-agnostic game engine paired with a HyperGrid interpreter, facilitating sovereign game economies that roll up back to the Solana platform. The primary goals of Sonic include: Enhanced Gaming Experiences: Sonic is committed to offering lightning-fast on-chain gameplay, allowing players and developers to engage with games at previously unattainable speeds. Atomic Interoperability: This feature enables transactions to be executed within Sonic without the need to redeploy Solana programmes and accounts. This makes the process more efficient and directly benefits from Solana Layer1 services and liquidity. Seamless Deployment: Sonic allows developers to write for Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) based systems and execute them on Solana’s SVM infrastructure. This interoperability is crucial for attracting a broader range of dApps and decentralised applications to the platform. Support for Developers: By offering native composable gaming primitives and extensible data types - dining within the Entity-Component-System (ECS) framework - game creators can craft intricate business logic with ease. Overall, Sonic's unique approach not only caters to players but also provides an accessible and low-cost environment for developers to innovate and thrive. Creator of Sonic The information regarding the creator of Sonic is somewhat ambiguous. However, it is known that Sonic's SVM is owned by the company Mirror World. The absence of detailed information about the individuals behind Sonic reflects a common trend in several Web3 projects, where collective efforts and partnerships often overshadow individual contributions. Investors of Sonic Sonic has garnered considerable attention and support from various investors within the crypto and gaming sectors. Notably, the project raised an impressive $12 million during its Series A funding round. The round was led by BITKRAFT Ventures, with other notable investors including Galaxy, Okx Ventures, Interactive, Big Brain Holdings, and Mirana. This financial backing signifies the confidence that investment foundations have in Sonic’s potential to revolutionise the Web3 gaming landscape, further validating its innovative approaches and technologies. How Does Sonic Work? Sonic utilises the HyperGrid framework, a sophisticated parallel processing mechanism that enhances its scalability and customisability. Here are the core features that set Sonic apart: Lightning Speed at Low Costs: Sonic offers one of the fastest on-chain gaming experiences compared to other Layer-1 solutions, powered by the scalability of Solana’s virtual machine (SVM). Atomic Interoperability: Sonic enables transaction execution without redeployment of Solana programmes and accounts, effectively streamlining the interaction between users and the blockchain. EVM Compatibility: Developers can effortlessly migrate decentralised applications from EVM chains to the Solana environment using Sonic’s HyperGrid interpreter, increasing the accessibility and integration of various dApps. Ecosystem Support for Developers: By exposing native composable gaming primitives, Sonic facilitates a sandbox-like environment where developers can experiment and implement business logic, greatly enhancing the overall development experience. Monetisation Infrastructure: Sonic natively supports growth and monetisation efforts, providing frameworks for traffic generation, payments, and settlements, thereby ensuring that gaming projects are not only viable but also sustainable financially. Timeline of Sonic The evolution of Sonic has been marked by several key milestones. Below is a brief timeline highlighting critical events in the project's history: 2022: The Sonic cryptocurrency was officially launched, marking the beginning of its journey in the Web3 gaming arena. 2024: June: Sonic SVM successfully raised $12 million in a Series A funding round. This investment allowed Sonic to further develop its platform and expand its offerings. August: The launch of the Sonic Odyssey testnet provided users with the first opportunity to engage with the platform, offering interactive activities such as collecting rings—a nod to gaming nostalgia. October: SonicX, an innovative crypto game integrated with Solana, made its debut on TikTok, capturing the attention of over 120,000 users within a short span. This integration illustrated Sonic’s commitment to reaching a broader, global audience and showcased the potential of blockchain gaming. Key Points Sonic SVM is a revolutionary layer-2 network on Solana explicitly designed to enhance the GameFi landscape, demonstrating great potential for future development. HyperGrid Framework empowers Sonic by introducing horizontal scaling capabilities, ensuring that the network can handle the demands of Web3 gaming. Integration with Social Platforms: The successful launch of SonicX on TikTok displays Sonic’s strategy to leverage social media platforms to engage users, exponentially increasing the exposure and reach of its projects. Investment Confidence: The substantial funding from BITKRAFT Ventures, among others, emphasizes the robust backing Sonic has, paving the way for its ambitious future. In conclusion, Sonic encapsulates the essence of Web3 gaming innovation, striking a balance between cutting-edge technology, developer-centric tools, and community engagement. As the project continues to evolve, it is poised to redefine the gaming landscape, making it a notable entity for gamers and developers alike. As Sonic moves forward, it will undoubtedly attract greater interest and participation, solidifying its place within the broader narrative of blockchain gaming.

1.3k Total ViewsPublished 2024.04.04Updated 2024.12.03

What is $S$

Understanding SPERO: A Comprehensive Overview Introduction to SPERO As the landscape of innovation continues to evolve, the emergence of web3 technologies and cryptocurrency projects plays a pivotal role in shaping the digital future. One project that has garnered attention in this dynamic field is SPERO, denoted as SPERO,$$s$. This article aims to gather and present detailed information about SPERO, to help enthusiasts and investors understand its foundations, objectives, and innovations within the web3 and crypto domains. What is SPERO,$$s$? SPERO,$$s$ is a unique project within the crypto space that seeks to leverage the principles of decentralisation and blockchain technology to create an ecosystem that promotes engagement, utility, and financial inclusion. The project is tailored to facilitate peer-to-peer interactions in new ways, providing users with innovative financial solutions and services. At its core, SPERO,$$s$ aims to empower individuals by providing tools and platforms that enhance user experience in the cryptocurrency space. This includes enabling more flexible transaction methods, fostering community-driven initiatives, and creating pathways for financial opportunities through decentralised applications (dApps). The underlying vision of SPERO,$$s$ revolves around inclusiveness, aiming to bridge gaps within traditional finance while harnessing the benefits of blockchain technology. Who is the Creator of SPERO,$$s$? The identity of the creator of SPERO,$$s$ remains somewhat obscure, as there are limited publicly available resources providing detailed background information on its founder(s). This lack of transparency can stem from the project's commitment to decentralisation—an ethos that many web3 projects share, prioritising collective contributions over individual recognition. By centring discussions around the community and its collective goals, SPERO,$$s$ embodies the essence of empowerment without singling out specific individuals. As such, understanding the ethos and mission of SPERO remains more important than identifying a singular creator. Who are the Investors of SPERO,$$s$? SPERO,$$s$ is supported by a diverse array of investors ranging from venture capitalists to angel investors dedicated to fostering innovation in the crypto sector. The focus of these investors generally aligns with SPERO's mission—prioritising projects that promise societal technological advancement, financial inclusivity, and decentralised governance. These investor foundations are typically interested in projects that not only offer innovative products but also contribute positively to the blockchain community and its ecosystems. The backing from these investors reinforces SPERO,$$s$ as a noteworthy contender in the rapidly evolving domain of crypto projects. How Does SPERO,$$s$ Work? SPERO,$$s$ employs a multi-faceted framework that distinguishes it from conventional cryptocurrency projects. Here are some of the key features that underline its uniqueness and innovation: Decentralised Governance: SPERO,$$s$ integrates decentralised governance models, empowering users to participate actively in decision-making processes regarding the project’s future. This approach fosters a sense of ownership and accountability among community members. Token Utility: SPERO,$$s$ utilises its own cryptocurrency token, designed to serve various functions within the ecosystem. These tokens enable transactions, rewards, and the facilitation of services offered on the platform, enhancing overall engagement and utility. Layered Architecture: The technical architecture of SPERO,$$s$ supports modularity and scalability, allowing for seamless integration of additional features and applications as the project evolves. This adaptability is paramount for sustaining relevance in the ever-changing crypto landscape. Community Engagement: The project emphasises community-driven initiatives, employing mechanisms that incentivise collaboration and feedback. By nurturing a strong community, SPERO,$$s$ can better address user needs and adapt to market trends. Focus on Inclusion: By offering low transaction fees and user-friendly interfaces, SPERO,$$s$ aims to attract a diverse user base, including individuals who may not previously have engaged in the crypto space. This commitment to inclusion aligns with its overarching mission of empowerment through accessibility. Timeline of SPERO,$$s$ Understanding a project's history provides crucial insights into its development trajectory and milestones. Below is a suggested timeline mapping significant events in the evolution of SPERO,$$s$: Conceptualisation and Ideation Phase: The initial ideas forming the basis of SPERO,$$s$ were conceived, aligning closely with the principles of decentralisation and community focus within the blockchain industry. Launch of Project Whitepaper: Following the conceptual phase, a comprehensive whitepaper detailing the vision, goals, and technological infrastructure of SPERO,$$s$ was released to garner community interest and feedback. Community Building and Early Engagements: Active outreach efforts were made to build a community of early adopters and potential investors, facilitating discussions around the project’s goals and garnering support. Token Generation Event: SPERO,$$s$ conducted a token generation event (TGE) to distribute its native tokens to early supporters and establish initial liquidity within the ecosystem. Launch of Initial dApp: The first decentralised application (dApp) associated with SPERO,$$s$ went live, allowing users to engage with the platform's core functionalities. Ongoing Development and Partnerships: Continuous updates and enhancements to the project's offerings, including strategic partnerships with other players in the blockchain space, have shaped SPERO,$$s$ into a competitive and evolving player in the crypto market. Conclusion SPERO,$$s$ stands as a testament to the potential of web3 and cryptocurrency to revolutionise financial systems and empower individuals. With a commitment to decentralised governance, community engagement, and innovatively designed functionalities, it paves the way toward a more inclusive financial landscape. As with any investment in the rapidly evolving crypto space, potential investors and users are encouraged to research thoroughly and engage thoughtfully with the ongoing developments within SPERO,$$s$. The project showcases the innovative spirit of the crypto industry, inviting further exploration into its myriad possibilities. While the journey of SPERO,$$s$ is still unfolding, its foundational principles may indeed influence the future of how we interact with technology, finance, and each other in interconnected digital ecosystems.

54 Total ViewsPublished 2024.12.17Updated 2024.12.17

What is AGENT S

Agent S: The Future of Autonomous Interaction in Web3 Introduction In the ever-evolving landscape of Web3 and cryptocurrency, innovations are constantly redefining how individuals interact with digital platforms. One such pioneering project, Agent S, promises to revolutionise human-computer interaction through its open agentic framework. By paving the way for autonomous interactions, Agent S aims to simplify complex tasks, offering transformative applications in artificial intelligence (AI). This detailed exploration will delve into the project's intricacies, its unique features, and the implications for the cryptocurrency domain. What is Agent S? Agent S stands as a groundbreaking open agentic framework, specifically designed to tackle three fundamental challenges in the automation of computer tasks: Acquiring Domain-Specific Knowledge: The framework intelligently learns from various external knowledge sources and internal experiences. This dual approach empowers it to build a rich repository of domain-specific knowledge, enhancing its performance in task execution. Planning Over Long Task Horizons: Agent S employs experience-augmented hierarchical planning, a strategic approach that facilitates efficient breakdown and execution of intricate tasks. This feature significantly enhances its ability to manage multiple subtasks efficiently and effectively. Handling Dynamic, Non-Uniform Interfaces: The project introduces the Agent-Computer Interface (ACI), an innovative solution that enhances the interaction between agents and users. Utilizing Multimodal Large Language Models (MLLMs), Agent S can navigate and manipulate diverse graphical user interfaces seamlessly. Through these pioneering features, Agent S provides a robust framework that addresses the complexities involved in automating human interaction with machines, setting the stage for myriad applications in AI and beyond. Who is the Creator of Agent S? While the concept of Agent S is fundamentally innovative, specific information about its creator remains elusive. The creator is currently unknown, which highlights either the nascent stage of the project or the strategic choice to keep founding members under wraps. Regardless of anonymity, the focus remains on the framework's capabilities and potential. Who are the Investors of Agent S? As Agent S is relatively new in the cryptographic ecosystem, detailed information regarding its investors and financial backers is not explicitly documented. The lack of publicly available insights into the investment foundations or organisations supporting the project raises questions about its funding structure and development roadmap. Understanding the backing is crucial for gauging the project's sustainability and potential market impact. How Does Agent S Work? At the core of Agent S lies cutting-edge technology that enables it to function effectively in diverse settings. Its operational model is built around several key features: Human-like Computer Interaction: The framework offers advanced AI planning, striving to make interactions with computers more intuitive. By mimicking human behaviour in tasks execution, it promises to elevate user experiences. Narrative Memory: Employed to leverage high-level experiences, Agent S utilises narrative memory to keep track of task histories, thereby enhancing its decision-making processes. Episodic Memory: This feature provides users with step-by-step guidance, allowing the framework to offer contextual support as tasks unfold. Support for OpenACI: With the ability to run locally, Agent S allows users to maintain control over their interactions and workflows, aligning with the decentralised ethos of Web3. Easy Integration with External APIs: Its versatility and compatibility with various AI platforms ensure that Agent S can fit seamlessly into existing technological ecosystems, making it an appealing choice for developers and organisations. These functionalities collectively contribute to Agent S's unique position within the crypto space, as it automates complex, multi-step tasks with minimal human intervention. As the project evolves, its potential applications in Web3 could redefine how digital interactions unfold. Timeline of Agent S The development and milestones of Agent S can be encapsulated in a timeline that highlights its significant events: September 27, 2024: The concept of Agent S was launched in a comprehensive research paper titled “An Open Agentic Framework that Uses Computers Like a Human,” showcasing the groundwork for the project. October 10, 2024: The research paper was made publicly available on arXiv, offering an in-depth exploration of the framework and its performance evaluation based on the OSWorld benchmark. October 12, 2024: A video presentation was released, providing a visual insight into the capabilities and features of Agent S, further engaging potential users and investors. These markers in the timeline not only illustrate the progress of Agent S but also indicate its commitment to transparency and community engagement. Key Points About Agent S As the Agent S framework continues to evolve, several key attributes stand out, underscoring its innovative nature and potential: Innovative Framework: Designed to provide an intuitive use of computers akin to human interaction, Agent S brings a novel approach to task automation. Autonomous Interaction: The ability to interact autonomously with computers through GUI signifies a leap towards more intelligent and efficient computing solutions. Complex Task Automation: With its robust methodology, it can automate complex, multi-step tasks, making processes faster and less error-prone. Continuous Improvement: The learning mechanisms enable Agent S to improve from past experiences, continually enhancing its performance and efficacy. Versatility: Its adaptability across different operating environments like OSWorld and WindowsAgentArena ensures that it can serve a broad range of applications. As Agent S positions itself in the Web3 and crypto landscape, its potential to enhance interaction capabilities and automate processes signifies a significant advancement in AI technologies. Through its innovative framework, Agent S exemplifies the future of digital interactions, promising a more seamless and efficient experience for users across various industries. Conclusion Agent S represents a bold leap forward in the marriage of AI and Web3, with the capacity to redefine how we interact with technology. While still in its early stages, the possibilities for its application are vast and compelling. Through its comprehensive framework addressing critical challenges, Agent S aims to bring autonomous interactions to the forefront of the digital experience. As we move deeper into the realms of cryptocurrency and decentralisation, projects like Agent S will undoubtedly play a crucial role in shaping the future of technology and human-computer collaboration.

566 Total ViewsPublished 2025.01.14Updated 2025.01.14

Discussions

Welcome to the HTX Community. Here, you can stay informed about the latest platform developments and gain access to professional market insights. Users' opinions on the price of S (S) are presented below.