Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter and Block, is quietly working on Bitchat, a decentralized messaging app he created in a single weekend. It runs on Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) mesh networks, which means you won’t need the internet or even phone numbers.
Bitchat lets phones within 300 meters (about 328 yards) swap encrypted messages without needing Wi-Fi or cell service. Your message hops from one device to another, creating a mesh network of sorts. If your buddy’s too far for a direct Bluetooth connection, their phone can still catch your message by bouncing through other nearby devices, or multi-hop connection.
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Messages are secured with end-to-end encryption, stored only on the sender’s and receiver’s phones, and set to disappear after a set time. Just open the app and start chatting. Group chats, called “rooms,” can be tagged with hashtags and locked with passwords. For extra security, a “Panic Mode” wipes all data with a quick triple-tap of the app’s logo.
Back in the 2019 Hong Kong protests, apps like Bridgefy and FireChat used Bluetooth mesh networks to keep demonstrators connected during internet shutdowns. Bitchat takes this to the next level with features like store-and-forward messaging, as well as the ability to hold texts for offline users until they’re back in range. Dorsey’s already hinting at a Wi-Fi Direct update for zippier speeds and longer reach. Plus, Bitchat’s open-source code on GitHub lets developers build on it.
While apps like WhatsApp and Messenger lean on cloud servers and collect user data, Bitchat grabs zero personal info, tracks nothing, and leaves no trace. That makes it a potential lifesaver in places hit by censorship or network outages.
The app’s beta launch on TestFlight maxed out its 10,000-user limit in a flash, showing how much buzz it’s got. Dorsey’s shared screenshots show a no-frills interface that’s all about getting the job done. Users pick @nicknames and hop into hashtag-named rooms for group chats.
[Source]
