Jack Dorsey has launched a new experimental messaging app that could radically shift how people communicate in the digital age. Called Bitchat, the app is a decentralized, peer-to-peer platform that operates entirely over Bluetooth mesh networks with no internet connection, phone numbers, servers, or personal data required.
Designed to function completely off-grid, Bitchat enables encrypted, ephemeral messaging between nearby devices. As users move through space, their devices form ad hoc Bluetooth clusters that relay messages to one another, allowing communication even across extended distances without traditional connectivity. The app also supports group chats or “rooms,” which can be secured with hashtags and passwords.
Bitchat is now available in beta via TestFlight, with a detailed white paper published for public review. Dorsey, known for his advocacy of open-source and decentralized systems, described the app as a personal exploration into mesh networking, encryption, and privacy-respecting digital tools.
What sets Bitchat apart from mainstream messaging apps like WhatsApp or Messenger is its complete absence of centralized infrastructure. Messages are stored only on users’ devices and vanish by default. No accounts, usernames, phone numbers, or identifiers are required. There is no cloud backup, no metadata collection, and no servers handling user content — making it effectively resistant to censorship, outages, and surveillance.
The app’s architecture mirrors the tools used by protesters in Hong Kong during the 2019 democracy movement, which relied on Bluetooth-based communication when internet access was blocked. Similarly, Bitchat offers a lifeline in scenarios where networks are shut down or compromised.
To bridge longer distances, certain devices within the network serve as relays, extending the range of messages across wider areas. Future updates will integrate WiFi Direct, enabling faster speeds and even greater distances between communicating devices.
Bitchat also includes “store and forward” capabilities ensuring messages reach users who may temporarily be offline, without ever relying on a central database.
