Former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey Launches Bitchat App That Works Without Internet
What is Bitchat App and How Does It Work?
Bitchat app is a new privacy-focused messaging platform that functions without internet, SIM card, phone number, or any server. The app is in its beta phase and currently available for iOS users through TestFlight. A technical white paper explaining its full functioning has been published on GitHub.
This app is built for people who want to communicate even in off-grid situations, without relying on any centralised network. Bitchat uses a Bluetooth mesh network, where messages hop from one device to another (which means jumping from one phone to another). So if the receiver is not in direct Bluetooth range, nearby users’ devices act as bridges and keep forwarding the message.
Example: If A wants to send a message to B but B is far away, and users like C, D and E are in between with Bitchat app installed, A’s message will go to C, then D, then E, and finally to B. As users move, the message continues to circulate through this living mesh network — all without any internet or central server.
Bitchat does not require any kind of user account, ID, or personal information. No data is collected. The structure is completely based on privacy and decentralisation — just like Dorsey’s earlier projects Bluesky and Damus. The concept is similar to Bridgefy, an app used during the 2019 Hong Kong protests when internet access was blocked.
Key Features of Bitchat App:
- Encrypted and ephemeral (temporary) messages
- Password-protected group chats, known as “rooms”
- Store and forward model for delayed message delivery when offline
- Upcoming support for WiFi Direct to enhance range and bandwidth
This app is currently in an experimental phase. Whether it becomes a mainstream communication tool or not will be seen in the future. But clearly, this app is a strong example of how decentralised and secure communication is possible even without internet access.
Is This an Alternative to Meta Apps?
Dorsey hasn’t officially claimed that Bitchat is a replacement for WhatsApp or Messenger, but the structure and philosophy behind it make it clear that it aims to be a decentralised alternative to such centralised platforms. For now, it is still being tested and its public response is yet to unfold. One thing is certain, Jack Dorsey remains fully committed to the decentralisation mission, and Bitchat app is the next step in that direction.
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