Jack Dorsey Launches Bitchat: A Bluetooth Messaging App That Works Without the Internet
Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter, has unveiled a new decentralized messaging app called Bitchat that operates entirely over Bluetooth.
According to a CNBC report, the app does not rely on the internet or central servers, marking a significant departure from traditional messaging platforms. Instead, it uses a peer-to-peer model to allow direct communication between nearby devices.
Dorsey describes Bitchat as an experiment in emerging communication technologies, including Bluetooth mesh networks, relays and store and forward models, message encryption models and a few other things.
The app enables encrypted messaging by turning each device into a node that not only sends and receives messages but also helps expand the network to other nearby users. This mesh approach allows Bitchat to build connectivity without any centralized infrastructure.
Perhaps most notably, Bitchat works even in environments where Wi-Fi or cellular networks are unavailable or intentionally blocked. Messages are stored locally on devices and vanish by default, offering a level of privacy and independence uncommon in mainstream messaging apps.
While the concept is not entirely new—similar tools have been used in past protest movements such as those in Hong Kong in 2019—Bitchat represents a fresh and timely take on communication resilience in a decentralized age.
