Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey has unveiled Bitchat, an experimental messaging app that works entirely over Bluetooth mesh networks, eliminating the need for internet, SIM cards, or central servers. The app, now in beta on TestFlight, enables encrypted peer-to-peer communication between nearby devices.
As users move, their phones form temporary clusters to pass messages locally. The app does not store messages on central servers; instead, they are saved on users’ devices and disappear by default. Bitchat does not require phone numbers, email addresses, or personal identifiers, making it privacy-friendly and resistant to censorship.
According to Dorsey, Bitchat could prove invaluable in places with internet shutdowns or surveillance-heavy environments. The app currently supports one-on-one encrypted chats, password-protected groups, and store-and-forward features for offline delivery. Future updates will expand its capabilities with WiFi Direct for faster, wider communication without traditional infrastructure.
