Science & technology

Dorsey Launches Bitchat, Bluetooth Messaging App

Published JUL 10 2025

Story

Above: Jack Dorsey, the founder and former CEO of Twitter Inc., now X, at a Bitcoin 2021 conference in Miami, Florida. Image credit: Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg/Getty Images

The Facts

Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey has launched Bitchat, a decentralized messaging app that operates through Bluetooth mesh networks without requiring internet access, allowing users to communicate within about 328 yards or through connected device relays.
EuroNews
New Atlas
The app, announced by Dorsey on GitHub, features end-to-end encryption for private messages, password-protected chat rooms, and ephemeral message storage only on device memory, with plans to add Wi-Fi Direct support for increased speed and range in future updates.
Techrepublic
New Atlas
GitHub
More than 10,000 users downloaded Bitchat through Apple's TestFlight beta program, though the platform reached capacity quickly, while Android versions remain available through unofficial builds on GitHub.
Techrepublic
EuroNews
Security researchers identified vulnerabilities in Bitchat's identity authentication system, prompting Dorsey to add warnings to his GitHub page that the software has not received an external security review and may contain security flaws.
TechCrunch
GitHub
Dorsey subsequently endorsed White Noise, a separate messaging app built on Nostr protocol with Messaging Layer Security (MLS) encryption, which requires internet connectivity but offers decentralized relay networks and quantum-resistant cryptographic capabilities.
CryptoSlate
Cryptopolitan
Both applications target users in high-censorship environments and emergency situations where traditional internet infrastructure may be compromised or monitored, similar to mesh networking apps used during the 2019 Hong Kong protests.
CryptoSlate
New Atlas

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The Spin

Techno-optimist narrative

Bitchat is a game-changer because it offers genuine privacy through encrypted, peer-to-peer communication to protect against censorship. Its connection via device relays will actually allow access to people in dangerous environments, whether it be a remote region or a protest. In a world craving digital freedom, Bitchat's simplicity and privacy focus make it a vital step toward resilient, off-grid communication.

Medium

Techno-skeptic narrative

While Dorsey promises complete privacy, Bitchat's niche appeal and untested security raise red flags. With no formal audits and known Bluetooth vulnerabilities, it's a hacker's playground. Its limited reach also ensures minimal adoption, risking quick obsolescence. Like pre-2008 markets, its decentralized hype masks real risks, and without robust safeguards, Bitchat's privacy claims are shaky.

YelloRN

Metaculus Prediction

Limited Coverage

This story currently has limited coverage. We will continue to monitor all major outlets and update our reporting as additional information becomes available.