In a move that may or may not change the way we communicate forever (or at least until the next app pops up), Block CEO and Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey has launched a beta version of Bitchat — a decentralized, peer-to-peer messaging service that somehow manages to run entirely over Bluetooth. Yes, Bluetooth. The thing you use to connect your headphones. Remember those?
Jack, clearly spending his weekend buried in tech jargon, said he was “learning about Bluetooth mesh networks, relays, store and forward models, message encryption models, and a few other things.” Oh, and by the way, he decided to introduce Bitchat on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday. Because why not?
The “Bluetooth mesh chat” system, according to Dorsey, carries “IRC vibes.” That’s right, kids, he’s referring to Internet Relay Chat — a relic from the late 90s when the internet was still figuring out how to be a thing. Ah, nostalgia!
For those who are still with us and trying to wrap their heads around this, the white paper dives into how Bitchat operates. It’s a decentralized messaging app that uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) mesh networks. In other words, it’s the future — unless you’re on an airplane with no Bluetooth, in which case, good luck.
“It provides ephemeral, encrypted communication without relying on internet infrastructure, making it resilient to network outages and censorship.”
Completely Decentralized and Private (Shocking, I Know)
According to the white paper (yes, there’s a whole white paper — because, of course, there is), Bitchat doesn’t rely on central servers, accounts, or any of that “big tech” nonsense. No need to register your email, phone number, or anything else that sounds like it could be sold to advertisers later. It’s basically the opposite of everything we’ve come to expect from apps run by social media giants like Meta.
Instead, Bitchat offers “ephemeral messaging.” This means your messages only exist temporarily and aren’t stored on any central database. Plus, there’s end-to-end encryption, so no one’s peeking at your private convos. Unless, of course, they’re standing right next to you with a Bluetooth device. Then all bets are off.
Compare that to the current crop of messaging apps like WhatsApp and Messenger, where everything’s centralized and, let’s face it, used as product fodder for corporate giants. You’re not the customer; you’re the product. Good times!
And then there’s mesh networking, which lets messages hop around between devices, like a digital game of tag. You can even set up room-based chat (think hashtags and password protection) for extra fun. If you’re offline, there’s a “store-and-forward” system that caches messages until your buddy is available to read them. Pretty slick.
Oh, and in case you missed it: some messaging apps may or may not be spying on you. No worries, though, Bitchat’s got your back.
Bluetooth Relays: Messages That Hop Around Like a Hyperactive Bunny
In the world of Bitchat, each device plays the role of both client and peripheral, creating a self-organizing mesh where messages hop from device to device until they reach the distant peer. This all happens within a 30-meter Bluetooth range, and there are “bridge nodes” to connect separate clusters. So, yeah, it’s all very “techie” and mysterious.
Messages are encrypted based on whether they’re private, in a group, or being broadcasted for everyone to read. And if you try sending a long message, don’t worry: it gets split into 500-byte chunks. Nothing gets lost in translation!
There’s even talk of expanding the service to WiFi in the future, which would boost the bandwidth for large messages. Because who doesn’t want faster messages?
Multiple Use Cases (Because Why Not?)
In case you’re wondering when exactly you’d need Bluetooth-only messaging, the system could be useful in conferences, protests, disaster zones, or any situation where the internet is either unavailable, unreliable, or just plain untrustworthy. Bitchat’s got you covered — and no, it won’t ask for your data in exchange. That’s refreshing, isn’t it?
The white paper concludes, and I quote:
“By combining Bluetooth mesh networking, end-to-end encryption, and privacy-preserving protocols, Bitchat provides resilient communication that works anywhere people gather, regardless of internet availability.”
Oh, and let’s not forget that Jack Dorsey, being the messaging mogul that he is, also founded the decentralized social messaging platform Bluesky. And while he did mysteriously leave the Bluesky board in May 2024, we can only imagine what he’s up to next.
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2025-07-07 07:16