Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter (now X) and current CEO of U.S. financial services company Block, has introduced a new Bluetooth-based messaging app called BitChat — seen as a potential challenger to WhatsApp. Remarkably, the app allows users to send messages without an internet connection and supports both texting and multimedia exchange. The app’s white paper has been made publicly available on GitHub.
According to Dorsey, BitChat does not rely on any central server or mobile network. “The technology works independently of central infrastructure,” he said, claiming that it will also preserve user privacy and the right to confidentiality. Currently, the app is in its testing phase and available only to iPhone users via Apple’s TestFlight program.
The launch of this next-generation messaging app has created a buzz worldwide. Industry analysts believe the underlying technology could revolutionize communication, particularly in areas with limited connectivity or during internet blackouts.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Dorsey explained that BitChat works through a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) network, enabling users to exchange encrypted messages with nearby users seamlessly. As the messages are transmitted via Bluetooth, the service does not rely on Wi-Fi or cellular networks, making it operational even when internet access is unavailable — a feature already showing promising results.
According to CNBC, “BitChat is part of Dorsey’s broader vision of user-centric technology that cannot be controlled by large corporations.” This philosophy is consistent with his previous ventures such as Damus and Bluesky, both aimed at decentralizing communication platforms.
The app also includes features like group chats or “rooms,” which can be named using hashtags (#). These rooms can be protected with passwords to restrict access to only authorized users, further enhancing the app’s privacy-driven framework.
