Block CEO and Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey has released the beta version of Bitchat, a decentralized peer-to-peer messaging service that operates entirely over Bluetooth mesh networks. The application enables encrypted communication without internet infrastructure, making it resilient to network outages and censorship.
What to Know:
- Bitchat uses Bluetooth Low Energy mesh networks with a 30-meter range to relay messages between devices
- The system requires no central servers, accounts, or registration and provides ephemeral messaging with end-to-end encryption
- Target use cases include conferences, protests, disaster areas, and scenarios where internet access is unavailable or untrusted
Dorsey announced the project on X Sunday, stating he spent his weekend learning about "Bluetooth mesh networks, relays, store and forward models, message encryption models, and a few other things." He described the system as having "IRC vibes," referencing the early Internet Relay Chat systems from the late 1990s.
Technical Architecture and Privacy Features
The white paper details Bitchat's fully decentralized architecture, which eliminates central servers, accounts, email addresses, phone numbers, or infrastructure dependencies. Messages exist only in device memory by default and are not stored in any central database. The system provides end-to-end encryption for additional security layers.
Each device functions as both client and peripheral, creating a self-organizing mesh where messages can hop between devices to reach distant peers. Bridge nodes connect separate clusters, extending the network's reach beyond the standard 30-meter Bluetooth range.
The application fragments large messages into 500-byte chunks and uses different encryption methods based on whether messages are private, sent to rooms, or broadcast. Room-based chat features hashtag-named group chats with optional password protection. A store-and-forward system caches messages for offline peers for predetermined time periods.
Future development plans include enabling messaging over WiFi to increase bandwidth for larger messages. This contrasts sharply with current popular messaging applications like WhatsApp and Messenger, which are operated by centralized corporations such as Meta that use personal and message data as products.
Use Cases and Market Context
The system targets multiple scenarios where traditional internet-based messaging fails or poses security risks. These include conferences, protests, disaster areas, and any situation where internet infrastructure is unavailable, unreliable, or untrusted.
Dorsey's messaging experience spans his tenure as Twitter CEO and his founding of the decentralized social messaging platform Bluesky in 2019. He departed the Bluesky board in May 2024 without explanation. His latest project addresses growing concerns about surveillance and data harvesting by mainstream messaging platforms.
In April, reports indicated that popular social messaging apps could be monitoring users and collecting personal information and messages. Dorsey's approach eliminates these privacy concerns by removing centralized data collection entirely.
Closing Thoughts
The white paper concludes that Bitchat demonstrates secure, private messaging is achievable without centralized infrastructure. By combining Bluetooth mesh networking, end-to-end encryption, and privacy-preserving protocols, the system provides resilient communication that functions anywhere people gather, regardless of internet availability.