Nikita Bier is stepping back from his role as X's product chief after 400 days, transitioning to an advisor position at Elon Musk's platform, he announced Wednesday. Bier stated X shipped nearly 30 new products during his tenure, which began in July 2025. Independent data presents a contrasting picture: SpaceX's May IPO filing revealed X had 550 million monthly active users in March, below X's public claim of 600 million, while 2025 ad revenue reached $1.8 billion compared to $4.4 billion in 2022 before Musk's acquisition. Bier's tenure included regulatory conflicts, with Brussels imposing a €120 million fine on Dec. 5 under the Digital Services Act and California's Attorney General launching an investigation into xAI on Jan. 14 over nonconsensual imagery concerns.
Bier's Product Shipments During 400-Day Tenure
Bier joined X as product chief in July 2025 after building tbh and Gas, two teen apps acquired by Facebook and Discord that reached No. 1 on the US App Store. At X, he oversaw rebuilds of core features including the Timeline, Android app, onboarding, notifications, and chat.
One pilot integrated live market data inside posts, driving an estimated $1 billion in Cashtags trading volume within 48 hours. Bier also shipped Grok-powered custom timelines, a topic snooze tool, and country of origin labels on profiles. The XChat App Store debut beat ChatGPT and Claude in initial performance.
Bier stated X climbed 70 places in the App Store over one year, though no third party published X's rank for August 2025. X (Twitter) sits at No. 6 among free iPhone apps, while ranking near No. 34 on all-categories charts.
SpaceX IPO Filing Reveals User and Revenue Data
SpaceX's May IPO filing disclosed X had 550 million monthly active users in March, below X's public claim of 600 million users. The filing showed 2025 ad revenue of $1.8 billion, down from $4.4 billion in 2022 before Musk acquired the company.
App analytics firm Appfigures counted 104 million downloads in 2025, representing a 13% decline. These figures contrast with Bier's product shipment claims during his 400-day tenure.
Regulatory Actions and Controversies During Bier's Leadership
Brussels fined X €120 million on Dec. 5, marking the first non-compliance decision issued under the Digital Services Act. Bier terminated the European Commission's ad account the following day.
Crypto traders accused Bier of throttling crypto posts in January. Bier had joined Solana as an advisor in March 2025, intensifying the accusations. He rejected the crypto content suppression claims and attributed issues to reply farming.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta opened an investigation into xAI on Jan. 14 over nonconsensual sexual imagery. A cease-and-desist letter followed two days later. Bier now transitions to an advisor role, handing three engineers a roadmap focused on payments and trading.
FAQ
What role is Nikita Bier taking at X after stepping back as product chief?
Nikita Bier is transitioning to an advisor position at X after serving as product chief for 400 days. He announced the change Wednesday, stating he would continue supporting the platform in the advisory capacity.
Why do X's user numbers differ between company claims and SpaceX's IPO filing?
X publicly claimed 600 million monthly active users, but SpaceX's May IPO filing disclosed 550 million monthly active users as of March. The filing represents official documentation submitted for the IPO process, while X's claim was a public statement.
What regulatory actions did X face during Nikita Bier's tenure as product chief?
Brussels imposed a €120 million fine on X on Dec. 5 under the Digital Services Act, the first non-compliance decision under that law. California Attorney General Rob Bonta opened an investigation into xAI on Jan. 14 over nonconsensual sexual imagery concerns and issued a cease-and-desist letter two days later.
