Jack Dorsey Launches Bluetooth Peer-to-Peer Messaging App

Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter and CEO of Block, has launched Bitchat, an experimental decentralized messaging app that uses Bluetooth mesh networks to enable encrypted peer-to-peer communication without the need for internet, servers, phone numbers, or email accounts. The beta version is available on Apple's TestFlight, and the app allows messages to hop across devices in a local network, supporting offline message storage and forwarding to ensure delivery even without connectivity. Bitchat emphasizes privacy and censorship resistance by storing messages only on users' devices and deleting them by default, using strong encryption protocols such as X25519 and AES-256-GCM. The app supports group chats called "rooms," protected by passwords and accessible via hashtags, and includes IRC-style commands. Dorsey describes Bitchat as a personal experiment focused on exploring Bluetooth mesh networking and secure messaging technologies, aiming to offer a communication method resilient to blackouts, heavy surveillance, and internet shutdowns. This initiative positions Bitchat as a direct challenge to mainstream messaging platforms like Meta's WhatsApp, by prioritizing decentralization, privacy, and user control over data.