This weekend, Jack Dorsey quietly dropped his latest experiment: Bitchat, a peer‑to‑peer messaging app that uses Bluetooth mesh networking to send encrypted messages without any internet, Wi‑Fi, phone numbers or email addresses.
Dorsey, former CEO of Twitter and current head of Block, shared via X (formerly Twitter) that he spent his weekend learning Bluetooth mesh, relays, encryption models, and “store and forward” messaging logic—leading to this “Bluetooth mesh chat… IRC vibes” side project.
Initially, messages can travel around 100 m over Bluetooth, but Bitchat’s mesh relay extends that up to ~300 m (approx. 984 ft) by hopping through devices (). The app is end‑to‑end encrypted by default, messages are ephemeral, and no central servers store your data .
Why does it matter? Platforms like Bridgefy and FireChat, which offer similar mesh‑based communication, proved vital during internet shutdowns—like during Hong Kong protests . Dorsey’s version aligns with his longstanding push for decentralization, privacy, and user sovereignty—remember Bluesky, Damus, and his Bitcoin advocacy? .
Bitchat is currently in beta via TestFlight, and the first 10,000 slots filled almost instantly. A GitHub white paper outlines its architecture: a fully decentralized, encrypted, account‑free messaging protocol running over Bluetooth Low Energy mesh, with optional future Wi‑Fi Direct support . Group “rooms” are supported via password‑protected hashtags, and even if you’re offline, “store and forward” ensures you get messages when you reconnect .
Though still an experimental weekend hack, Bitchat reflects Dorsey’s pattern—test small, think big. If it becomes robust and user‑friendly, it could offer a compelling fallback communication layer—useful in festivals, disaster zones, censored regions, or anywhere cellular or internet access is unreliable.
and here's an ugly whitepaper describing protocol: https://t.co/AhJ1y0jJdP
— jack (@jack) July 6, 2025
Whether Bitchat stays a niche experiment or grows into something more depends on user uptake, real‑world reliability, and potential expansion (like Wi‑Fi Direct or perhaps even Bitcoin payments?). But it’s yet another bold move from one of tech’s most persistent decentralizers.
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