Bitchat Gains 48K Downloads Amid Nepal's Social Media Ban

- Decentralized app sees over 48,000 downloads amid internet blackout in Nepal. - Protestors use app to bypass social media ban during September demonstrations. Bitchat, Jack Dorsey’s decentralized communication app, surged in popularity in Nepal during the country's nationwide protests in September 2025. Originally launched as a weekend project on July 7, the app quickly became a critical communication tool after the government banned 26 major social media platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. The protests began on September 4 and escalated into violent unrest by September 9, with demonstrators storming and setting fire to government buildings across Kathmandu and other regions. With traditional social media channels inaccessible, protestors sought alternative methods to communicate and organize amid the chaos. Bitchat stood out because it functions without internet connectivity, using Bluetooth mesh networks and the Nostr protocol to provide secure, anonymous communication in environments impacted by government interventions. The app’s whitepaper details its decentralized features, which make Bitchat a reliable tool for thwarting censorship. By encrypting user messages and ensuring untraceable activity, it met the increasing demand for privacy among demonstrators. Online forums like Reddit and Twitter amplified recommendations for the app as a solution to bypass the social media blackout, further contributing to its surge in downloads. Much of Bitchat’s foundational appeal lies in its simplicity and resilience. A pseudonymous open-source developer named Calle maintains the platform's Android version. Downloads in Nepal now account for over 38% of the app's total installs to date. Calle also noted smaller spikes in adoption during recent political protests in Indonesia, a trend that underscores the growing global significance of decentralized communication tools during times of turmoil. Developers plan to integrate financial technologies such as Bitcoin and Ecash into the app using the Cashu protocol. This addition will allow users to conduct private financial transactions directly within Bitchat, enhancing the app's utility for individuals who need to manage communication and commerce in restrictive political environments. On September 11, 2025, market data aggregators reported that at 19:15 UTC, Bitcoin (BTC) was trading at $114,279.39, reflecting a 0.77% increase in 24-hour trading volume. Meanwhile, eCash (XEC) recorded a price of $0, with a 0.12% increase in 24-hour volume. These trends reflect a growing interest in decentralized technologies, which have become vital in regions grappling with government censorship and infrastructure limitations.