Watsapp Rival?!!! Jack Dorsey Unveils ‘Bitchat’ — A Privacy-First, Offline Messaging App That Needs No Internet
Jack Dorsey, the co-founder of Twitter, has developed a new messaging app called Bitchat, a decentralized, peer-to-peer communication tool that operates entirely over Bluetooth mesh networks—no internet, SIM card, phone number, or email needed.
Over the weekend, Dorsey personally built and launched the beta version of the app, now available on TestFlight, alongside a full white paper published on GitHub. Describing the project on X, he called it an experiment exploring Bluetooth mesh technology, encryption models, decentralized relays, and store-and-forward messaging systems.
Bitchat allows nearby users to exchange encrypted, temporary messages by forming Bluetooth clusters between devices. These messages can “hop” from phone to phone, reaching others beyond the usual Bluetooth range — all without the need for Wi-Fi or mobile networks.
To extend coverage, some devices act as “bridges” between clusters, enabling broader message distribution. All communications stay local to devices and vanish by default, ensuring no data is stored on central servers — reflecting Dorsey’s ongoing commitment to privacy and decentralized systems.
The app echoes his work on platforms like Damus and Bluesky and draws inspiration from tools used during the 2019 Hong Kong protests, which relied on mesh networks to communicate during internet blackouts.
Bitchat also supports password-protected group chats (called “rooms”) and includes a store-and-forward function that delivers messages once the recipient comes back online. A future update will incorporate Wi-Fi Direct to boost performance and range, moving the platform even further toward fully off-grid communication.
In contrast to apps like WhatsApp and Messenger — which are backed by major tech firms and collect user data — Bitchat doesn’t require accounts, doesn’t store identifiers, and collects no user information whatsoever. It’s a bold step in Dorsey’s mission to build user-owned, censorship-resistant technologies.
