Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey has launched BitChat, a decentralized messaging app designed to rival WhatsApp. The app operates via Bluetooth mesh networks, enabling messaging without internet access and requiring no phone number or email for sign-up.
Dorsey announced BitChat’s beta release on X (formerly Twitter), noting its test availability on Apple’s TestFlight platform. The app features end-to-end encryption for secure local device communication and stores messages solely on users’ devices—deleting them by default.
Key capabilities include
Group chats and “room” features
Future Wi-Fi Direct support for long-distance messaging
Resilience during internet blackouts or poor connectivity
BitChat follows Dorsey’s earlier decentralized project, Blue Sky, which he later exited. Its white paper is publicly accessible on GitHub.
