Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter (now X), has developed a new messaging app called Bitchat that allows users to chat without needing an internet connection. The app works via Bluetooth, creating a decentralized peer-to-peer mesh network where messages are sent directly between devices.
Unlike traditional messaging apps, Bitchat does not rely on servers to store messages. Instead, messages are stored only temporarily on devices and disappear after use. Users can join topic-based chat rooms or send encrypted private messages directly to other users nearby.
Because Bitchat uses Bluetooth, messages can be sent up to about 300 meters (328 yards) away. If the recipient is further, the message hops through other connected devices until it reaches them. The app offers password-protected chat rooms and end-to-end encryption, ensuring privacy without requiring users to provide phone numbers or email addresses.
Dorsey built the first version of Bitchat over a weekend as an experiment to explore mesh networking technology. An early build is available on iOS via Apple’s TestFlight, but spots are currently full. There is no confirmed timeline for an Android version yet.
Similar mesh-based apps, such as FireChat and Bridgefy, became popular during internet shutdowns like the 2019 Hong Kong protests. Bitchat could prove useful in places with limited or censored internet access, large public events, or emergency situations.
Future updates may include Wi-Fi Direct support to extend range and speed. Although currently a learning project, Bitchat reflects Dorsey’s interest in privacy, free expression, and decentralized communication amid growing concerns over online censorship worldwide.
