Jack Dorsey, CEO of Block and co-founder of Twitter, has launched the beta version of Bitchat.
This decentralized messaging app operates entirely over Bluetooth mesh networks, allowing users to communicate without internet access. This innovative platform aims to provide secure, private, and resilient messaging by leveraging Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology to create a peer-to-peer network.
my weekend project to learn about bluetooth mesh networks, relays and store and forward models, message encryption models, and a few other things.
bitchat: bluetooth mesh chat…IRC vibes.
TestFlight: https://t.co/P5zRRX0TB3
GitHub: https://t.co/Yphb3Izm0P pic.twitter.com/yxZxiMfMH2— jack (@jack) July 6, 2025
Having served as CEO of Twitter and founded the decentralized social messaging platform Bluesky in 2019, Dorsey is familiar with messaging protocols. He departed from the Bluesky board in May 2024, not explaining his decision.
Bitchat’s design eliminates the need for central servers, accounts, or phone numbers, making it a truly decentralized system. Messages are ephemeral, stored only temporarily on devices, and protected by end-to-end encryption to ensure privacy and security. This contrasts with popular messaging apps like WhatsApp and Messenger, which are controlled by centralized corporations and often collect user data for profit.
The app uses a Bluetooth mesh network, where each device acts as both a client and a relay node, forwarding encrypted messages across multiple hops to reach recipients beyond direct Bluetooth range. This mesh network supports group chats with hashtag-named rooms and optional password protection. A “store-and-forward” feature caches messages for offline users temporarily, enhancing message delivery reliability.
Bitchat is designed for use in scenarios where internet access is limited or censored, such as protests, disaster zones, or remote locations. Future updates may include WiFi support to increase bandwidth for larger messages.
This project aligns with Dorsey’s ongoing interest in decentralized social platforms, following his involvement with Bluesky, a decentralized social network initiative. Bitchat demonstrates a practical application of decentralized technology to enhance communication freedom and security without relying on traditional internet infrastructure.
On May 18, 2025, Jack Dorsey, CEO of Block Inc., publicly backed a proposal to simplify Bitcoin’s smallest unit from “satoshis” to a more accessible term, such as “bits” or “Bitcoin.” Dorsey contends that the current “satoshis” unit creates confusion for new users, thereby impeding mainstream adoption.
If you want to read more news articles like this, visit DeFi Planet and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and CoinMarketCap Community.
“Take control of your crypto portfolio with MARKETS PRO, DeFi Planet’s suite of analytics tools.”
