Jack Dorsey Introduces A Decentralized, Bluetooth-Based Messaging App, 'Bitchat'

In a bold move to challenge traditional messaging platforms, Twitter co-founder and Block CEO Jack Dorsey has launched Bitchat, a new decentralized messaging app built entirely on Bluetooth mesh networks. Unlike WhatsApp or Messenger, Bitchat requires no internet connection, phone numbers, servers, or user accounts. The app is now available in beta on Apple’s TestFlight platform.

What is Bitchat?
Bitchat enables fully encrypted, peer-to-peer communication between nearby devices. Messages are ephemeral, stored only on the sender and receiver's devices, and are deleted by default. This ensures total privacy with no centralized storage or data collection—marking a significant departure from mainstream messaging platforms that often rely on personal data.

Key Features of Bitchat
Offline Messaging: Works over Bluetooth, with future updates to support WiFi Direct for longer-range and faster communication.
Decentralized Architecture: No central servers, no cloud, and no metadata collection.
Encryption-First: Every message is end-to-end encrypted, ensuring maximum security and anonymity.
Store-and-Forward: Messages can be temporarily held and forwarded when the recipient comes back online.
Password-Protected Rooms: Optional group chats can be named using hashtags and protected with passwords.

Why It Matters
Dorsey calls Bitchat an experiment in “bluetooth mesh networks, relays, and encryption models” — technologies aimed at resisting censorship, surveillance, and internet shutdowns. Inspired in part by the decentralized apps used during the Hong Kong protests, Bitchat allows users to stay connected even when online services are blocked.

This launch also reinforces Dorsey’s broader vision of decentralized internet infrastructure, aligning with his support for platforms like Bluesky and Damus.

As concerns over digital privacy and surveillance grow globally, Bitchat could represent the next step in secure, off-grid communication—especially in crisis zones or under restrictive regimes.