Twitter co-founder and Block CEO Jack Dorsey has launched the beta version of BitChat, a decentralized peer-to-peer messaging app. BitChat is built on a store-and-forward model with end-to-end encryption, with the long-term goal of building an offline-capable decentralized communications protocol.
According to his post on X, the decentralized application will communicate over Bluetooth without any centralized server or network outages. Dorsey, who spent the weekend learning about Bluetooth mesh networks and message encryption models, said BitChat will leverage the early days of web-based messaging systems in the late 1990s. This signals a breakthrough in social media networking, as true decentralized communication would finally be realized.
Explaining What BitChat Is
The former Twitter CEO explains that the BitChat messaging app will relay encrypted messages across 30m, forming a self-organizing network, where texts can hop between devices. All encrypted messages will self-destruct after delivery unless cached temporarily in a device memory, and not on a central database. He further reveals that users would require no accounts, including email and phone numbers, to get on board.
The messaging app will also have the store-and-forward feature, where offline messages will be delivered when recipients reappear. Finally, there’s a room-based chat that users can set up with hashtags and optional password protection. The white paper is currently available on Jack Dorsey’s X account for everyone to access.
BitChat Sets the Bar in Social Media Messaging
Current messaging applications, such as those owned by Meta (Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp), rely on central servers and collect user metadata. BitChat offers a different approach by creating a truly decentralized space, where communication is based on local device connections (Bluetooth). Since each device acts as a client and relay, there’s no single point of failure, which contrasts cloud-based messaging platforms.
Additionally, it’s not affected by network outages or internet restrictions. This makes it ideal for areas where natural disasters are common or governed by authoritarian rules. When telecom fails, users or even disaster agencies can rely on BitChat to save the day.
Above all, BitChat guarantees privacy. In mainstream social media, privacy is a luxury because everyone is monitored. Dorsey’s decentralized messaging app enhances 100% privacy. This is crucial in private conferences or meetups, where centralized data collection isn’t required. There’s no data leakage, accounts, or tracking because all messages are encrypted.
Can BitChat Be the Face of Social Media Messaging?
BitChat looks promising, with all its benefits. It reduces resistance to censorship, promotes privacy, and gives users more freedom and control. However, range and adoption may remain significant hurdles.
First, BitChat relies on a Bluetooth mesh network, which is restricted in distance. Large-scale use of messaging would require infrastructure, which is expensive. In addition, mobile phone batteries have limited life. Constant scanning and relaying drain power, even with BLE optimizations, make BitChat unideal for prolonged messaging.
Then there’s the adoption hurdle, caused mainly by the user experience gap. BitChat is relatively new and different from conventional messaging apps like WhatsApp, Messenger, or even Telegram. The convenience and reliability may fall short of users’ expectations.
What’s Next for Digital Messaging?
BitChat is still in the beta stage, awaiting full launch. Jack Dorsey hints that future versions may support Wi-Fi to handle larger data. We may also see future Web3 integrations, such as linking BitChat to dApps and identity systems.
Jack Dorsey is creating a vision of digital connection that serves the interests of everyone. Encryption and Bluetooth mesh networks are two features that set BitChat apart from other messaging apps. Soon, the world of social media will pivot from cloud-based, centralized services to user-first communication, decentralized systems.
Dorsey could also launch more messaging protocols after BitChat. The Block CEO is no stranger to the world of messaging, having founded Bluesky in 2019, another decentralized messaging protocol. He left the board without explanation five years later, but experts think he left because of irreconcilable differences.
