{"id":92978,"date":"2026-01-09T15:25:21","date_gmt":"2026-01-09T12:25:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/?p=92978"},"modified":"2026-01-09T15:31:36","modified_gmt":"2026-01-09T12:31:36","slug":"bitchat-downloads-surge-by-400000-amid-iran-protests","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/bitchat-downloads-surge-by-400000-amid-iran-protests\/","title":{"rendered":"BitChat downloads surge by 400,000 amid Iran protests"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Iranian authorities have curtailed internet access amid ongoing mass protests. In response, the community urged residents to use the encrypted <a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/jack-dorsey-unveils-encrypted-bluetooth-chat\">BitChat messenger<\/a>, backed by Jack Dorsey.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The people of Iran can use a very simple app: BITCHAT, that doesn&#8217;t need internet connection at all. Just text communication via Bluetooth connection proximity and mesh Bluetooth network. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/8yz4LBC98m\">pic.twitter.com\/8yz4LBC98m<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Abstract Wine\ud83c\udf77 (@AbstractWine) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AbstractWine\/status\/2009344028110934031?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 8, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>According to <a href=\"https:\/\/chrome-stats.com\/d\/com.bitchat.droid\/trends\">Chromestats<\/a>, downloads jumped by 43,000 in the past day and by 437,900 over the week. The share attributable to Iran is not yet known.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"258\" src=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-883e0705350f62f0-3177673711824552-1024x258.png\" alt=\"image\" class=\"wp-image-273098\" srcset=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-883e0705350f62f0-3177673711824552-1024x258.png 1024w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-883e0705350f62f0-3177673711824552-300x76.png 300w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-883e0705350f62f0-3177673711824552-768x194.png 768w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-883e0705350f62f0-3177673711824552-1536x387.png 1536w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-883e0705350f62f0-3177673711824552.png 1896w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: Chromestats.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Earlier, the messenger drew strong interest in Nepal and Indonesia amid protests against the ruling authorities.<\/p>\n<p>BitChat does not require an internet connection: each Bluetooth device on the network acts as a client and relay, passing encrypted messages over distances of up to 30 metres.<\/p>\n<p>High-speed internet and communications could also be provided by Elon Musk\u2019s Starlink satellites. Users urged the billionaire to deploy equipment in Iran, which he already <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/elonmusk\/status\/1933727111485026581\">did<\/a> during rallies in June.<\/p>\n<p>Some reports suggest Musk has responded.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">In light of the internet shutdown in Iran, Elon Musk opened the Starlink network for free use for protesters.<\/p>\n<p>This happened following an appeal from Deputy Minister Almog Cohen through businessman Dovi Frances.<\/p>\n<p>Musk pledged to keep the network open and prevent attempts at\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/LswkE9sGNK\">pic.twitter.com\/LswkE9sGNK<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Eli Afriat \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf1\ud83c\udf97 (@EliAfriatISR) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/EliAfriatISR\/status\/2009350644679705066?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 8, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Odds of Iran\u2019s leader being deposed top 50% on Polymarket<\/h2>\n<p>Users of <a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/what-is-polymarket\">Polymarket<\/a> put the probability of Ali Khamenei being deposed at 55%. Over the past 24 hours, that figure rose by 20%.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"577\" src=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-9351a64b74b30744-3177699530136536-1024x577.png\" alt=\"image\" class=\"wp-image-273099\" srcset=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-9351a64b74b30744-3177699530136536-1024x577.png 1024w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-9351a64b74b30744-3177699530136536-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-9351a64b74b30744-3177699530136536-768x433.png 768w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-9351a64b74b30744-3177699530136536-1536x866.png 1536w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-9351a64b74b30744-3177699530136536.png 1908w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/polymarket.com\/event\/khamenei-out-as-supreme-leader-of-iran-by-december-31-2026\">Polymarket<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Total stakes have topped $559,000.<\/p>\n<p>The surge was fuelled by mass protests and a <a href=\"https:\/\/time.com\/7344450\/iran-protests-latest-economy-trump\/\">warning<\/a> from US President Donald Trump of possible strikes if demonstrations are violently suppressed. The death toll has already <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2026\/jan\/08\/iran-plunged-into-internet-blackout-as-protests-over-economy-spread-nationwide\">exceeded<\/a> 45.<\/p>\n<p>In early January, traders put the odds of Khamenei stepping down below 40%.<\/p>\n<p>On a related market with aggregate stakes of $2.5m, the picture is as follows:<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"449\" src=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-caf1c9b38e211fdd-3177713216793309-1024x449.png\" alt=\"image\" class=\"wp-image-273100\" srcset=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-caf1c9b38e211fdd-3177713216793309-1024x449.png 1024w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-caf1c9b38e211fdd-3177713216793309-300x132.png 300w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-caf1c9b38e211fdd-3177713216793309-768x337.png 768w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-caf1c9b38e211fdd-3177713216793309-1536x674.png 1536w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-caf1c9b38e211fdd-3177713216793309.png 1902w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Traders assign a 16% chance of Khamenei being deposed by end-January and 29% by end-March. Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/polymarket.com\/event\/will-khamenei-leave-iran-by-friday\">Polymarket<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Suspicions of insider trading<\/h2>\n<p>Earlier, the community <a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/polymarket-becomes-exclusive-data-provider-for-the-wall-street-journal\">criticised<\/a> Polymarket for refusing to recognise US actions in Venezuela as an \u201cinvasion\u201d. Turnover in the disputed contract reached $10.5m.<\/p>\n<p>Another flashpoint was alleged insider trading. One user made more than $400,000, with the account created only days before the US special operation.<\/p>\n<p>The episode drew official attention: Congressman Ritchie Torres proposed a bill to bar insiders from trading on prediction markets.<\/p>\n<p>At the time of writing, the user\u2019s profile <a href=\"https:\/\/polymarket.com\/@0x31a56e9E690c621eD21De08Cb559e9524Cdb8eD9-1766730765984\">was unavailable<\/a>. It remains unclear whether it was deactivated by the Polymarket team or the trader deleted the account.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, analysts at Lookonchain flagged suspicious activity around another market that prices the odds of US strikes on Iran.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Insiders are betting on the Polymarket that &#8220;US strikes Iran by Jan 31, 2026&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>4 newly created wallets simultaneously placed bets that &#8220;US strikes Iran by Jan 31, 2026&#8221; when the change was below 18%, and haven&#8217;t made any other bets.<\/p>\n<p>Do they know something?\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/gP6a3kpcoc\">pic.twitter.com\/gP6a3kpcoc<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Lookonchain (@lookonchain) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/lookonchain\/status\/2009076668439339012?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 8, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Four newly created wallets bet on \u201cYes\u201d when odds were at 18%. According to experts, those addresses showed no other trading activity on the platform.<\/p>\n<p>However, users <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/CarOnPolymarket\/status\/2009088637024260560\">found<\/a> an inaccuracy in Lookonchain\u2019s account: one of the cited addresses does have a history on Polymarket. It previously took part in memecoin-related markets.<\/p>\n<p>In late December, Bitwise CEO Hunter Horsley <a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/bitwise-ceo-sees-bitcoin-as-a-shield-against-irans-economic-collapse\">called<\/a> bitcoin a salvation from economic collapse in Iran.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Iranian authorities curtailed internet access amid mass protests. In response, the community urged residents to use the BitChat messenger.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":92979,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"select":"1","news_style_id":"1","cryptorium_level":"","_short_excerpt_text":"Odds of the country\u2019s leader being deposed exceeded 50% on Polymarket","creation_source":"","_metatest_mainpost_news_update":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[840,1330,1148,1595],"class_list":["post-92978","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-and-analysis","tag-iran","tag-jack-dorsey","tag-polymarket","tag-prediction-markets"],"aioseo_notices":[],"amp_enabled":true,"views":"841","promo_type":"1","layout_type":"1","short_excerpt":"Odds of the country\u2019s leader being deposed exceeded 50% on Polymarket","is_update":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92978","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=92978"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92978\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":92980,"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92978\/revisions\/92980"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/92979"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=92978"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=92978"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=92978"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}