Block CEO and Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey has unveiled the beta version of Bitchat, a new decentralized, peer-to-peer messaging platform that operates entirely over Bluetooth.
Announcing the project on X this Sunday, Dorsey shared that he spent the weekend diving into “Bluetooth mesh networks, relays, store-and-forward models, message encryption models, and a few other things” as part of building the app.
Describing Bitchat as giving off “IRC vibes,” Dorsey referenced the nostalgic feel of early internet chat systems from the late 1990s.
A detailed white paper accompanies the launch, explaining how Bitchat uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) mesh networks to enable communication without internet connectivity, emphasizing decentralization and privacy.
“It provides ephemeral, encrypted communication without relying on internet infrastructure, making it resilient to network outages and censorship.”
Fully decentralized and privacy-focused
According to the white paper, Bitchat is designed to be completely decentralized, eliminating the need for central servers, user accounts, email addresses, phone numbers, or any reliance on traditional infrastructure.
The platform supports “ephemeral messaging,” meaning messages are stored only temporarily in device memory and not saved to any central database. End-to-end encryption adds another layer of security, ensuring that conversations remain private.
In contrast to centralized messaging apps like WhatsApp and Messenger—both owned by Meta and known for monetizing user data—Bitchat emphasizes user privacy and freedom from corporate surveillance.
Leveraging mesh networking, Bitchat allows messages to automatically hop between devices, extending communication range without the internet. Users can create room-based group chats using hashtags, with optional password protection for added control. Additionally, a “store-and-forward” feature temporarily caches messages to be delivered to offline users once they reconnect.
This approach comes amid growing concerns over data privacy. In April, Cointelegraph reported that some widely used messaging platforms might be secretly collecting user data and message content.
Bluetooth relays enable messages to hop between devices
Each device functions as both a client and a peripheral, forming a self-organizing mesh network where messages hop from one device to another to reach distant users. The system relies on a 30-meter Bluetooth range, with bridge nodes linking separate clusters to extend connectivity.
Messages are encrypted according to their type—private, room-based, or broadcast—and larger messages are broken down into smaller 500-byte fragments for transmission.
Future updates aim to introduce messaging over WiFi, which would provide higher bandwidth and improve support for larger message sizes.
Multiple use cases
The system is well-suited for a range of scenarios, including conferences, protests, disaster zones, or any environment where internet access is unavailable, unstable, or cannot be trusted.
The white paper concludes by stating that Bitchat proves secure, private messaging is achievable without relying on centralized infrastructure, emphasizing:
“By combining Bluetooth mesh networking, end-to-end encryption, and privacy-preserving protocols, Bitchat provides resilient communication that works anywhere people gather, regardless of internet availability.”
Dorsey is well-versed in messaging protocols, having previously served as Twitter’s CEO and founding the decentralized social platform Bluesky in 2019. However, he stepped down from Bluesky’s board in May 2024 without offering a public explanation.
