Elon Musk’s X Appoints Benji Taylor as Design Lead

Key Insights:

• Elon Musk appoints Benji Taylor as Design Lead on X.
• The move aligns with X Money rollout and fintech expansion plans.
• The hire sparks speculation around deeper crypto integration on X.

Elon Musk owned X platform has once again made headlines, now with its latest hire in the design space. The social media platform reportedly named Benji Taylor, a seasoned design veteran with experience at Aave Labs and Coinbase’s Base network, as its new Design Lead.

This development can shape the future of X as Taylor aims to redefine how millions interact with the social media giant.

Benji Taylor Joins Elon Musk Owned X as Design Lead

The latest crypto news surrounds the tech billionaire Elon Musk. The X social media platform, now owned by Elon Musk, has hired design veteran Benji Taylor. Musk welcomed Taylor, writing on X, “Welcome to xAI and 𝕏, Benji!”

Taylor has previously served as a leader at blockchain networks such as Aave Labs and Coinbase’s Base. He has also founded Los Feliz Engineering, which Aave Labs later acquired in 2023.

It is worth noting that the move brings in a designer with real crypto experience at a time when X is clearly planning to introduce payments and more financial features on the platform. His joining could make a significant influence on the platform’s future.

Expressing his enthusiasm for the development, Taylor stated, “I’m honoured to be joining X to lead design.” With this appointment, X intends to build the “greatest design team in the industry.”

X’s Head of Product, Nikita Bier, stated that it took nearly six months to convince Benji Taylor to join the team. Bier also praised Taylor, saying he recognized his talent years ago after investing in one of his apps.

X Moves Closer to Becoming a “Super App”

Elon Musk often stated that he wants his X platform to become a “Crypto Superapp.” By this statement, he means that X should turn into a place where users can handle all kinds of financial transactions.

As part of this vision, Elon Musk unveiled plans for X Money. The platform is starting to roll out features, such as real-time stock and crypto tracking in feeds via “Smart Cashtags” like $BTC and $ETH. Its partnership with Visa could also support fast global payments using the USDC stablecoin

X Money, the platform’s payments service, has already begun limited testing. Early users, including actor William Shatner, have shared glimpses of features like instant peer-to-peer transfers, cashback on card spending, and savings with yield. Elon Musk has confirmed that early public access could begin in April.

With these developments, X is clearly stepping into the fintech space. It aims to compete with major payment apps like PayPal, Venmo, and Cash App. In such a scenario, the appointment of Taylor, who has years of experience in crypto, is vital. Taylor’s arrival has sparked speculation that X could move further into crypto.

Why Elon Musk Led X’s Design Strategy Matters Now

Now, X is significantly at a critical point as it expands beyond a social media platform. With new features, like X Money and paid crypto promotions, the overall user experience becomes more important than ever. A strong design strategy will help make these complex features feel simple, safe, and easy to use for everyday users.

Bringing in Benji Taylor at this stage shows that X is focused on building a smoother, more intuitive platform. His experience in crypto and product design could help bridge the gap between technology and usability.