In a bold leap into the future of communication, Jack Dorsey, the co-founder and former CEO of Twitter, has launched a revolutionary messaging platform named “BitChat” — a blockchain-based messaging app that can function without an internet connection.
Touted as a decentralized, peer-to-peer communication tool, BitChat leverages the power of blockchain networks and mesh technology to enable users to send messages even in areas with no Wi-Fi or cellular data, redefining the possibilities of real-time digital communication.
Unlike conventional messaging apps, BitChat uses:
- Blockchain-based identity verification for secure, encrypted messaging
- Mesh networking and Bluetooth to create a localized network between users
- A distributed ledger to ensure message integrity and prevent tampering
- Offline relay nodes to carry and forward messages without central servers
Users can communicate with nearby devices and relay messages across the network, even in rural or disaster-struck areas with zero internet infrastructure.
In a launch event held virtually, Dorsey said:
“BitChat is about putting communication back in the hands of people — secure, private, and not dependent on any one provider or network. This is the next evolution of the open internet.”
Dorsey, a long-time advocate for decentralization and financial freedom via blockchain (including Bitcoin), hinted that BitChat may later integrate micro-payments or tip features using cryptocurrency for content creators and users.
BitChat arrives at a time when concerns around data privacy, censorship, and internet shutdowns are growing globally. Experts believe it could be a game-changer in regions facing authoritarian restrictions or natural disasters where traditional networks fail.
Tech analysts are calling BitChat “the Signal of Web3”, citing its emphasis on zero surveillance, data sovereignty, and offline operability.
BitChat is currently in closed beta testing for Android and iOS, with public rollout expected later this year. Developers and privacy advocates are already showing keen interest, while venture capital firms are reportedly backing the app’s expansion.
With BitChat, Jack Dorsey re-enters the social tech space — not to compete with legacy platforms, but to reshape the very infrastructure of how we connect.
