Jack Dorsey, the co-founder of Twitter and CEO of Block, has officially launched BitChat, a privacy-first Bluetooth-based messenger, now available on the App Store. Following a short beta testing period via TestFlight that quickly hit its 10,000-user limit, the app is now publicly accessible across supported regions.
You can also download BitChat for Android devices on Google Play.
What is BitChat?
BitChat enables decentralized, offline messaging through Bluetooth mesh networking. It does not require an internet connection, user registration, or even a login. Simply install the app, choose a display name, and start chatting with anyone within Bluetooth range (approximately 100 meters).
Built using Block’s AI coding assistant Goose, Dorsey reportedly created the working prototype in a single weekend, adding features like private messaging and password-protected channels the next day.
Security and privacy at its core
BitChat is built with end-to-end encryption (Curve25519 + AES-GCM), and features dummy traffic, timing obfuscation, panic mode (triple-tap to erase all data), and zero data retention. All messages stay on your device and are never sent to external servers.
Despite its privacy-first design, security concerns have already emerged. Researcher Alex Radocea demonstrated a vulnerability that allows user impersonation. Dorsey responded by warning users that BitChat has not undergone an independent security audit and should not be considered secure for sensitive use yet.
Use cases and limitations
Ideal for scenarios without reliable internet such as protests, festivals, remote travel, or natural disasters. BitChat supports communication in decentralized networks. Currently, a known iOS bug prevents it from bridging with Android devices, but a fix has been submitted to Apple.
BitChat is a promising tool for anonymous, resilient communication in a connected world, but users are advised to treat it as experimental until further testing and audits are completed.
