Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter and CEO of Block, launched his new app, Bitchat Mesh, on the Apple App Store on July 29, 2025. The app had a beta test on TestFlight, where it quickly reached its 10,000-user limit.
Bitchat Mesh is a peer-to-peer messaging app that works without internet, Wi-Fi, or cellular networks. It uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) mesh technology to connect nearby devices. Users can send encrypted messages even in places with no signal, like remote areas, protests, or during natural disasters.
The app allows devices within about 30 meters to link up, creating a network that can pass messages up to 300 meters (984 feet) away through other users. It does not require any phone number, email, or account, keeping users anonymous. Messages are encrypted end-to-end and disappear automatically after a time.
Bitchat offers group chat “rooms” that can be password-protected, a “Panic Mode” to erase all data quickly, and a system that saves messages for offline users. Dorsey developed the app as a weekend project and made its code open source on GitHub, focusing on privacy and decentralization.
However, the iOS app had a bug that stopped it from connecting to Android devices. A fix is ready but waiting for Apple’s approval. Security experts have raised concerns because the app has not had an external security review. This might expose users to risks like impersonation in the authentication process.
Despite these issues, Bitchat has attracted attention for its ability to resist censorship. Many users also share that it supports sending Bitcoin via built-in Cashu wallets, making it popular with people who value privacy and want to communicate off the grid.
