Twitter obtains money transmitter licenses in multiple states
Twitter has recently obtained money transmitter licenses in Michigan, Missouri, and New Hampshire, indicating its commitment to regulatory compliance and its intention to enter the payment services space. The licenses granted in these states allow Twitter to provide transfer services or payment instruments and ensure consumer protections for secure fund transmission.
Key points:
- The licenses in Michigan and New Hampshire are called “Money Transmitter Licenses,” while the one in Missouri is called a “Sale of Checks and Money Transmitter License,” but this naming distinction does not reflect different planned services.
- Twitter’s license applications in all 50 US states demonstrate its ambition to expand nationwide with its potential payment service, Twitter Payments.
- Twitter has been pursuing licenses, including money service business (MSB) licenses, indicating its commitment to entering the payment services space across all US states and additional territories.
- Twitter CTO and executive chair Elon Musk has been leading efforts to explore digital payments and transform Twitter into an “everything app.”
- While it remains uncertain if Twitter’s payment plans will incorporate cryptocurrency-related services, the platform has supported crypto tipping and introduced features like NFT profile pictures.
Hot Take:
Twitter’s acquisition of money transmitter licenses in multiple states signals its serious intent to enter the payment services market. With Elon Musk’s leadership, Twitter is aligning its vision with digital payments, potentially posing competition to other non-bank payment service providers. Whether or not Twitter will integrate cryptocurrency services into its payment offerings remains a question, but the company’s previous support for crypto tipping indicates a potential future expansion in the crypto space.