Nikita Bier announced on Aug. 5 that he had officially stepped down after 400 days as head of product at X (formerly Twitter) and would transition to an advisory role. Key controversies during his tenure included the EU fining X €120 million under the Digital Services Act (DSA) in December 2025 and multiple crypto traders accusing him of restricting cryptocurrency-related posts.
Nikita Bier’s Key Product Achievements at X
The key products launched by Bier during his tenure at X, from July 2025 to August 2026, were:
· Timeline overhaul: Core system rebuilt
· Android app rebuilt
· User onboarding optimization
· Notification system rebuilt
· Chat feature rebuilt
· Grok-powered custom timelines
· Topic pause tool
· Country labels on profiles
· XChat: Its debut performance on the App Store surpassed ChatGPT and Claude
· Cashtags pilot: One pilot participant published real-time market data in posts, which was estimated to have driven $1 billion in trading volume within 48 hours
Claimed Data vs. Independent Data
Bier claimed that X’s App Store ranking improved by 70 places in one year, but no third-party organization has yet published specific data on X’s ranking in August 2025. X currently ranks sixth among free iPhone apps but is around 34th in the all-categories ranking.
Independent data shows a downward trend: SpaceX’s May 2026 IPO filing disclosed that X had 550 million monthly active users in March, down from the previously reported 600 million. Advertising revenue in 2025 was $1.8 billion, a sharp decline from $4.4 billion in 2022, before Musk’s acquisition. Appfigures recorded 104 million downloads in 2025, down 13% year over year.
Key Controversies: The EU’s €120 Million DSA Fine and Crypto Community Allegations
Three major controversies occurred during Bier’s tenure:
December 5, 2025: Brussels fined X €120 million under the Digital Services Act (DSA), the first such violation decision. The next day, December 6, Bier terminated the European Commission’s advertising account.
Starting in January 2026: Crypto traders accused Bier of restricting cryptocurrency-related posts. Bier denied this and instead pointed to reply farms. His move to join Solana as an advisor in March 2025 further intensified the allegations.
January 14, 2026: California Attorney General Rob Bonta launched an investigation into xAI, accusing it of publishing sexual imagery without consent. On January 16, 2026, xAI issued a cease-and-desist notice alleging infringement.
FAQ
How long did Nikita Bier serve as head of product at X?
According to Bier’s posts on X, he was hired in July 2025 and announced his departure on Aug. 5, 2026, serving for approximately 400 days. After stepping down, he will remain at X as an advisor.
How do independent data assess X’s performance during Bier’s tenure?
SpaceX’s May 2026 IPO filing disclosed that X had 550 million monthly active users in March, below the previously claimed 600 million. Appfigures recorded a 13% year-over-year decline in downloads in 2025. Advertising revenue in 2025 was $1.8 billion, a sharp decline from $4.4 billion in 2022, before Musk’s acquisition.
What major controversies did X face during Bier’s tenure?
The main controversies included the EU fining X €120 million under the DSA in December 2025, after which Bier terminated the European Commission’s advertising account the next day; crypto traders accusing him of restricting crypto-related posts; and the California attorney general launching an investigation into xAI over non-consensual sexual imagery in January 2026.
