Jack Dorsey Unveils Bitchat, a Decentralized Messaging App

- Operates over Bluetooth mesh networks for internet-free, encrypted communication. - Prioritizes privacy and resilience through a fully decentralized platform. Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter and Block, has launched “Bitchat,” a decentralized messaging app that provides encrypted communication without an internet connection. By operating over Bluetooth mesh networks, the app eliminates the need for centralized servers, user accounts, email addresses, or phone numbers, thereby offering a completely private and secure messaging experience. The platform uses end-to-end encryption for ephemeral messaging, ensuring that messages are stored only on user devices and not on centralized databases. Bitchat's decentralized framework transforms each device into both a client and a peripheral within a 30-meter Bluetooth range, allowing devices to relay messages to users outside of direct proximity. To further extend the network, bridge nodes connect separate clusters, and the app fragments large messages into smaller chunks to optimize transmission efficiency. The team designed Bitchat for situations where internet access is unreliable or unavailable, such as at conferences, during protests, in disaster response situations, and in other environments requiring robust privacy. The app's decentralized nature not only enhances its resilience but also provides a proof-of-concept for secure messaging that operates independently of traditional internet infrastructure. Furthermore, the project’s white paper reveals plans to integrate WiFi capabilities for larger bandwidth transmissions, which will broaden its functionalities. By addressing critical privacy concerns and enabling communication in challenging environments, Bitchat stands out as an innovative tool in the messaging landscape that holds significant implications for users worldwide.