Twitter's founder, billionaire Jack Dorsey, has done it again: This time he announced a completely new messaging app called Bitchat, which offers a true revolution in the field of communication—instant messaging without the need for internet, cellular networks, or centralized servers, with everything operating through Bluetooth between nearby devices. The app is currently available in beta via Apple’s TestFlight platform, and is expected to receive future upgrades that will enable the use of WiFi Direct technology to expand its range and speed.
The app, based on the principles of decentralized communication, was born from a personal experiment conducted by Dorsey on Bluetooth-based networks, advanced encryption, and cross-device communication. The idea is simple but revolutionary: Users create a local network of devices that communicate with each other via Bluetooth. This way, messages can be transmitted even over longer distances, as long as there are devices acting as "bridges" between different groups.
The encrypted messages automatically disappear from the system after being sent and are not stored on external servers. In fact, there is no need for a user account, phone number, or any kind of registration—ensuring complete privacy and immunity from censorship. According to Dorsey, this is an attempt to create a new, independent, and free way to communicate, especially in times when access to traditional networks is disrupted.
Bitchat draws inspiration from the apps used during the 2019 protests in Hong Kong, where demonstrators were forced to find alternative ways to communicate after government bodies blocked access to social media and the internet. During those protests, decentralized Bluetooth networks were used to transmit messages—similar to the model Dorsey now offers, but in a more advanced and encrypted form.
Among the app's key features are password-protected group chats, called “rooms,” which can be identified by a hashtag. Messages are sent in a “store-and-forward” manner—temporarily saved on the device until a suitable target device becomes available for transmission. Anyone who is temporarily disconnected can receive the messages once they reconnect to the local Bluetooth network.
Dorsey emphasizes that the entire project is based on direct communication between devices, with no central infrastructure at all: No servers, no cloud synchronization, and no data collection. This is a direct challenge to companies like Meta, which operates WhatsApp and Messenger and relies on personal data collection, user identification, and server-based traffic.
Dorsey's broader vision, as seen from his recent actions, is to dismantle the control that large corporations have over communication and information channels. Following his support for decentralized platforms, the launch of Bitchat is a natural continuation of his stance in favor of privacy, freedom of expression, and unregulated communication.
The next stage of development will include support for WiFi Direct technology—a protocol that allows devices to communicate with each other over longer ranges and at higher data transfer speeds, without needing a router or internet access. This would allow the app to expand its operational range far beyond Bluetooth’s limitations.
Using such a platform could be critical in emergency situations like earthquakes, widespread power outages, protests, or in areas disconnected from cellular networks. In addition, in countries where governments block access to social networks, Bitchat could provide a practical solution for free, untraceable communication.
At this stage, the app operates only in beta version for iPhones, but Dorsey has not ruled out the possibility of expanding it to other operating systems in the future. Within the open-source community, there is already active discussion around future integration options for the app with other decentralized communication tools, including integration with mesh networks or personal satellite devices.