Jack Dorsey Unveils Encrypted Bluetooth Chat

Jack Dorsey, CEO of Block, has introduced the beta version of a decentralized messenger called Bitchat. The application operates via Bluetooth without an internet connection.

and here’s an ugly whitepaper describing protocol: https://t.co/AhJ1y0jJdP

— jack (@jack) July 6, 2025

Dorsey compared the messenger to IRC chats from the late 1990s.

According to the white paper, Bitchat is a fully decentralized network without central servers. Registration does not require accounts, email, or phone numbers. Messages are stored only in the device’s memory and do not enter a central database. Additional security is provided by end-to-end encryption.

Each device in the Bitchat network functions both as a client and as a relay. Messages can “hop” between gadgets to reach distant users. The Bluetooth range is 30 meters, and separate network clusters are connected by bridge nodes. Large messages are divided into 500-byte fragments.

The messenger is suitable for use at conferences and in disaster zones—situations where internet access is limited or unreliable. Developers plan to introduce Wi-Fi support for transferring large files in the future.

Earlier in June, Elon Musk announced the launch of XChat messenger “with encryption, disappearing messages, and the ability to send any files.” The application faced criticism.