Bluesky released its v1.114 update, making the “Live Now” badge available to all users after a limited beta test that began in May 2025 with select accounts, including the official NBA account. The update also introduces cashtags for discussions on publicly-traded companies.
The “Live Now” badge enables Twitch streamers who maintain Bluesky profiles to append a distinctive badge to their profile picture. This badge provides a direct link to the streamer’s current livestream, facilitating immediate access for followers. During the initial beta phase in May 2025, Bluesky restricted testing to a small group of accounts to gather feedback and refine functionality before wider rollout.
📢 v1.114 is rolling out!Today, we're expanding access to the Live Now beta to everyone. This experimental feature lets you add a temporary LIVE badge to your avatar, helping others discover that you're currently live-streaming on Twitch. They can click it to land directly on your stream page.
Currently, the “Live Now” badge supports links exclusively from Twitch streams. Bluesky states “support for other streaming platforms may follow” once the company analyzes data from the beta period. This approach allows Bluesky to expand compatibility based on user demand and technical evaluations.
Bluesky positions this feature against practices on competitor X, which previously attempted to restrict users from posting external links. In contrast, Bluesky emphasizes openness by integrating direct streaming links into profiles, encouraging cross-platform connectivity without barriers.
The v1.114 update accompanies the “Live Now” badge with cashtags, a hashtag variant designed for publicly-traded companies. Users create a cashtag by typing a dollar sign followed by the stock abbreviation, such as $AAPL for Apple. This notation links the post to all others containing the identical cashtag, enabling easy discovery through searches or direct taps on the tag.
Cashtags originated as a feature on pre-Musk Twitter, where they organized business-related conversations. On Bluesky, they function similarly, grouping posts for quick navigation. Bluesky’s user base has not yet developed a strong business orientation comparable to X, yet the inclusion of cashtags offers tools for users interested in stock discussions who migrate from other platforms.
