Twitter co-founder and Block CEO Jack Dorsey has rolled out the beta version of a new messenger called bitchat, which operates on a peer-to-peer basis and does not require an internet connection. The app uses short-range Bluetooth networks to create encrypted temporary chats.
Messenger With No Registration or Servers
According to the whitepaper, bitchat is fully decentralized. It has no servers, accounts, phone numbers, emails, or any other infrastructure - only user devices. Each device acts both as a client and a transmitter. Communication is built using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), with messages being relayed in "hops" across devices up to 30 meters away, forming a mesh network.
Temporary Messages and Default Encryption
Messages exist only in the device's RAM. By default, they are not stored in any databases. End-to-end encryption is built-in. Communication can happen in several formats:
- one-on-one
- in “rooms” with hashtags
- or in broadcast mode.
Users can also set password protection and use the “store-and-forward” feature, allowing temporary caching of messages for offline participants.
For larger messages, bitchat automatically splits them into fragments of 500 bytes. In the future, the app plans to integrate Wi-Fi support to increase bandwidth.
Why This Matters
The developers present bitchat as a tool for communication in environments where the internet is unavailable or untrusted. Use cases include protests, conferences, natural disasters, and zones with restricted network access. The lack of intermediaries or infrastructure, according to the creators, makes communication secure and independent.
Dorsey Returns to Messaging
This isn’t Dorsey’s first venture into communications. In 2019, he launched the decentralized platform Bluesky, which he left in May 2024 without explanation. Now, he offers an alternative to centralized messengers like WhatsApp and Messenger, which are owned by corporations and use user data for commercial purposes.
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