Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter and a known tech entrepreneur, has introduced a new messaging app called Bitchat. Unlike typical messaging platforms, Bitchat doesn’t require internet access or phone numbers to function, making it a unique and potentially game-changing tool.
The app works using Bluetooth mesh networks, which allow devices to talk directly with each other within a certain physical range. This type of technology can be particularly useful in places where the internet is unavailable, such as crowded music festivals or during emergencies like natural disasters.
On Sunday, Dorsey shared the app’s whitepaper on GitHub, describing Bitchat as “ephemeral, encrypted communication” that resists censorship and network failures. It generates random peer IDs instead of needing phone numbers or registration, and messages can vanish after a short time—similar to apps like Signal or Telegram.
A beta version was released through Apple’s TestFlight, and it quickly reached its 10,000-user limit. However, Dorsey warned the app is still “in review” and not ready for a full launch just yet.
This isn’t Dorsey’s first step into decentralised technology. He’s currently CEO of Block, a major fintech firm that also holds a large amount of Bitcoin. He also helped start Bluesky, a decentralised social network, before leaving its board in 2024 over disagreements on moderation policies.
Bitchat reflects Dorsey’s ongoing mission: to build tech that works independently of large companies or centralised systems.
Photo: Wikipedia
