Jack Dorsey's Internet-Free Messaging App: Bitchat

Jack Dorsey, a co-founder of Twitter, is releasing a new messaging app that he says doesn't require a phone number or internet connection. The entrepreneur's preference for decentralised technology appears to be being exploited.

Plus, Dorsey posted on X on Sunday, saying he had studied “Bluetooth mesh networks” over the weekend. These networks let devices talk to each other without requiring Wi-Fi or other internet infrastructure.

After that, he shared a GitHub link to a whitepaper for Bitchat, a project that offers “ephemeral, encrypted communication without relying on internet infrastructure, making it resilient to network outages and censorship.”

Bitchat: A Revolution in Bluetooth Interaction

Bluetooth mesh network devices usually operate within a certain physical range, typically a few hundred feet. The technology is useful for first responders in search and rescue operations or for finding friends at a music festival when Wi-Fi is spotty or overloaded.

According to the whitepaper, Bitchat-enabled device clusters

have the potential to transmit a signal farther than is possible with most Bluetooth connections.

Moreover, Bitchat's ephemeral nature elevates the concept to the level of encrypted applications like Signal, Telegram, and WhatsApp, which all let users have their messages automatically deleted after a time limit.

Likewise, the whitepaper claims that “random peer IDs” are created with every app use and that neither phone numbers nor registration will be required. Ten thousand people have downloaded the beta version since Dorsey made it available through Apple's TestFlight.

What Does Bitchat's Future Hold?

In contrast to WhatsApp, Bitchat is a brand-new initiative free from parent company rules and regulations. The owner of WhatsApp is Meta.

As the CEO of Block, a fintech behemoth that owns numerous smaller businesses like Cash App and Square, Dorsey, 48, would be making his third attempt at a decentralised project. Besides, Block is one of the biggest cryptocurrency holders in the world, holding over 8,000 BTC, or about $900 million, on its balance sheet. Dorsey has a fondness for Bitcoin.

Dorsey also co-founded Bluesky, a decentralised social network that enables users with sufficient coding skills to create their networks using the same AT Protocol infrastructure.

In 2024, Dorsey resigned from the board of directors due to disagreements about the company's direction, particularly concerning content moderation. Of course, in 2006, Dorsey was a co-founder of the well-known Twitter.

Briefly put, if you want to jump on the Bitchat bandwagon immediately, don't expect anything. Bitchat is “in review,”

Dorsey added in a follow-up post on Monday, adding that the app isn't yet ready for prime time.

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