OpenAI paused new sign-ups and upgrades for its higher-tier ChatGPT Pro plans, including the 20x usage tier, in mid-September 2026 after surging demand for advanced reasoning models like GPT-6 Astra strained infrastructure and risked degrading service for existing subscribers. The $200 monthly plan offers significantly expanded limits on messages, uploads, and compute-intensive features compared to standard Pro or Plus tiers, positioning it against competing high-usage offerings from Anthropic. Traders are monitoring capacity management updates and any revised usage calculations, with the current date marking a potential reopening window that could shift implied probabilities depending on whether OpenAI confirms broader availability or maintains restrictions through October.