Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter and CEO of Block, has developed a new messaging app named Bitchat. The app lets users send encrypted messages without needing internet access, mobile networks, phone numbers, or email addresses.

Instead, Bitchat uses Bluetooth mesh networks. This allows phones nearby to pass messages between each other securely and privately—even in areas with poor or no connectivity.

How Bitchat Works

Dorsey described Bitchat as a personal experiment in exploring mesh networks, encryption, and decentralised communication. He introduced the app on X (formerly Twitter), along with a link to its beta version via TestFlight and a technical whitepaper on GitHub.

Bitchat creates short-range, peer-to-peer connections. It lets phones form Bluetooth groups to send messages, which then hop from one phone to another, extending their reach—up to 300 metres (about 984 feet).

As users move, messages can travel through the network, reaching devices outside normal Bluetooth range. Messages are temporary, encrypted, and stored only on the user's phone. They disappear by default and never pass through any central server.

Privacy and Censorship Resistance

Bitchat aligns with Dorsey’s long-standing goal of building privacy-first, censorship-resistant platforms. The app doesn’t collect user data or require any personal information. It offers group chats called “rooms”, which users can name with hashtags and lock with passwords.

Additionally, it has a “store-and-forward” feature. This means if a user is offline, the message will be stored temporarily and delivered once they’re back online.

Inspired by Protest Tech and Future Updates

This idea is similar to apps used during the 2019 Hong Kong protests, where demonstrators stayed connected despite internet blackouts. In the same spirit, Bitchat is designed for use in emergencies, protests, or remote areas.

Dorsey also plans to add Wi-Fi Direct in future updates. This will improve the app’s speed and range while keeping it decentralised.

A Different Model from Big Tech

Unlike apps like WhatsApp or Messenger that rely on cloud services and user data, Bitchat runs on a fully peer-to-peer model. It aims to give people control over their communication tools without involving major tech companies. Bitchat continues Dorsey’s push for decentralisation seen in earlier projects like Bluesky and Damus.

Release and Future Potential

The beta version of Bitchat filled up quickly after Dorsey shared the TestFlight link. All 10,000 slots were claimed within hours. The app is still under review before its official public release.

The GitHub whitepaper describes Bitchat as “a decentralised, peer-to-peer messaging application that operates over Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) mesh networks... making it resilient to network outages and censorship.”

It remains to be seen if Bitchat will gain wide popularity or stay a niche app for tech-savvy users and privacy advocates.

Who Is Behind It?

Jack Dorsey currently leads Block, a financial tech company he co-founded. Block runs services like Cash App and Square, offering digital payments and tools for businesses.

With Bitchat, Dorsey aims to create tools that work without depending on centralised infrastructure, opening a new path for private communication in the digital age.