Elon Musk’s X has just dealt cryptocurrency enthusiasts a major blow: it’s axed the beloved crypto emojis.
Elon Musk’s X platform has sparked controversy within the cryptocurrency community by abruptly removing long-standing cryptocurrency emojis, including the iconic Bitcoin symbol.
On July 25, reports indicated that the removal affected not only Bitcoin but also other cryptocurrencies like Cronos and BNB, which had their emojis deleted after being introduced in 2020.
The Bitcoin emoji made its debut on X (then Twitter) in 2020 under the leadership of Jack Dorsey. Dorsey was a vocal Bitcoin advocate and sought to elevate the cryptocurrency’s profile by incorporating its symbol into the Unicode standard. At the time, X was charging hefty fees to companies for custom emojis, a strategy aimed at boosting brand recognition and generating buzz.
This move comes at a peculiar time, coinciding with the start of the Bitcoin 2024 conference in Nashville, Tennessee. The conference, which began on the same day, is set to feature prominent speakers, including Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, known for his pro-crypto stance. Trump will speak at the event on July 27.
The timing of the emoji removals has raised concerns among some observers about potential negative impacts on Bitcoin’s price.
Additionally, Musk recently added an emoji for the Trump-themed memecoin MAGA (TRUMP) on July 18, which has also been removed. The MAGA emoji depicted Trump with his fist raised following an assassination attempt in mid-July, a situation Musk publicly supported.
