Key Takeaways:
- Jack Dorsey unveiled Bitchat, a decentralized, offline messaging app using Bluetooth mesh networks and end-to-end encryption.
- Bitchat requires no internet, servers, or user accounts, offering private, ephemeral communication with optional group chat features.
- The app is designed for secure messaging in low-connectivity environments, with future updates expected to include WiFi support.
Jack Dorsey, CEO of Block and co-founder of Twitter, has launched the beta version of Bitchat, a decentralized messaging app that functions without internet access.
Built on Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) mesh networking, Bitchat enables peer-to-peer, encrypted communication without the need for servers, accounts, emails, or phone numbers.
Messages are ephemeral by default, existing only in a device’s memory, and secured via end-to-end encryption using Curve25519 and AES-GCM.
The app supports room-based group chats with hashtag names and optional password protection.
It utilizes a store-and-forward model, allowing messages to be temporarily cached for delivery to offline users.
Each device acts as both a client and a node, enabling messages to hop across a mesh network with a typical 30-meter Bluetooth range.
Bridge nodes can extend communication to wider areas.
Designed for offline environments like protests, conferences, remote locations, or disaster zones, Bitchat offers a resilient alternative to centralized apps.
Future updates will add WiFi support, increasing bandwidth and reliability.
A newly released white paper concludes that secure, private messaging is possible without centralized infrastructure, reinforcing the potential of mesh networking for privacy-first communication.