In a notable shift within the social media landscape, Bitcoin miner IREN has emerged as the top searched cashtag on X, surpassing established favorites such as Tesla. This development follows the introduction of X”s new feature, Smart Cashtags, and highlights the growing interest in the cryptocurrency mining sector.
The data, shared by Nikita Bier, X”s product lead, reveals that IREN outperformed Tesla and even Bitcoin itself in search interest on the platform from December 1, 2025, to January 14, 2026. The surge in IREN”s visibility can be attributed to the expanding Bitcoin mining industry and the company”s technological advancements.
On Sunday, Bier announced the rollout of Smart Cashtags, designed to enhance the tagging of assets and smart contracts in posts. He noted that these tags would serve as shortcuts to real-time pricing and a stream of related posts, asserting, “X is the best source for financial news — and hundreds of billions of dollars are deployed based on things people read here.” This announcement came amidst a wave of mixed reactions from the community, particularly regarding potential restrictions on user engagement.
According to Bier”s recent update, IREN ranked first in X cashtag searches, followed by Tesla, AST SpaceMobile, and Bitcoin. Other notable mentions included Ondas Holdings, XRP, GameStop Corporation, Nebius Corporation, Opendoor Technologies Inc., and Ethereum.
The community”s reaction to these rankings has sparked discussions about the implications of cashtags on algorithm functionality. Some users expressed curiosity about IREN, questioning its operations and relevance in the market. Others compared the rankings of various altcoins, including $ADA, $MON, and $TON, while showing enthusiasm for the performance of traditional cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP.
The timing of Bier”s announcement regarding Smart Cashtags has drawn attention, especially in light of speculations about X potentially limiting user replies. Criticism surfaced from prominent figures in the crypto community, including analyst KALEO, who emphasized the importance of unrestricted interactions within the community.
Despite the controversies, the excitement around the Smart Cashtags feature suggests a promising future for X as a platform for trading and financial news. AB Kuai Dong highlighted the potential for X to partner with major trading platforms like Coinbase, indicating a shift towards becoming a hub for stock and crypto trading.
As the cryptocurrency landscape continues to evolve, IREN”s rise in popularity underscores the dynamic nature of the sector and the increasing integration of social media in financial discussions.
