Bluesky Adds Cashtags and Live Badges Amid User Surge

Bluesky is rolling out new platform features designed to capture the attention of a growing user base. The social network is introducing “cashtags” for financial discussions and expanding an experimental “LIVE” badge system, moves that arrive as the app experiences a significant uptick in new installations.

The platform’s growth trajectory shifted following a wave of public scrutiny directed at X. Recent reports revealed that the xAI chatbot Grok was generating sexualized imagery of real women and minors without their consent. This controversy prompted the California Attorney General to open an investigation into the company’s handling of nonconsensual explicit material.

A Surge in New Installs

Data from market intelligence firm Appfigures highlights the recent shift in user behavior:

• Between December 30, 2025, and January 6, 2026, Bluesky recorded approximately 19,500 iOS downloads in the U.S.
• From January 7, 2026, through January 14, that figure climbed to 29,000, representing a 49% increase.
• Prior to this window, the platform typically averaged 4,000 U.S. installs per day.

New Features for Engagement

The update brings two primary tools aimed at increasing time spent on the app:

Cashtags: By placing a dollar sign before a stock ticker (e.g., $AAPL), users can now easily track and discuss publicly traded companies. This feature mimics a standard established by the financial network Stocktwits and later adopted by Twitter in 2012.

Live Badges: Bluesky is expanding its “Live Now” feature, which attaches a temporary badge to a user’s avatar. While this currently only supports integration with Twitch, it signals a move to better serve creators who broadcast content externally.

The Challenge of Habit

Despite the recent influx of users, Bluesky faces a difficult road toward long-term retention. Last year, the platform saw significant declines, with mobile daily active users dropping nearly 40% by the end of October, according to Similarweb. Furthermore, while many influencers have established a presence on Bluesky, data from Pew Research indicates that they continue to prioritize X for their primary content distribution. For Bluesky, the challenge remains shifting years of ingrained social habits among its user base.