Jack Dorsey, the co-founder of Twitter and current CEO of Block, has introduced a new messaging app called Bitchat—a bold step toward communication that doesn’t depend on internet access, servers, or even mobile networks. The app is already gaining attention for doing something that seems almost impossible in today’s world: allowing users to message one another without using the internet.
Built to function through Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) mesh networks, Bitchat allows smartphones to connect directly with nearby devices and form a peer-to-peer web. This lets users send and receive messages without needing WiFi, data, or even a mobile signal. Instead, phones become part of a self-sustaining network where messages are passed along from one device to another. Each person who moves with the app running can carry and relay encrypted messages through proximity, helping reach users far outside the usual Bluetooth range. In some conditions, a single message can travel nearly 300 meters (984 feet) by hopping through connected devices.
This innovative app is a direct response to modern-day concerns around censorship, surveillance, and the fragility of internet infrastructure. Whether during political protests, natural disasters, or total blackouts, Bitchat is designed to keep people connected—without relying on big tech or traditional communication networks.
Dorsey announced the beta release of Bitchat via a post on X, accompanied by a link to the GitHub repository and a whitepaper describing the app’s structure and purpose. Within hours of his announcement, all 10,000 TestFlight beta slots were filled, reflecting significant early interest. The whitepaper describes Bitchat as a “decentralized, peer-to-peer messaging application that operates over BLE mesh networks,” emphasizing its ability to provide encrypted, temporary communication without any reliance on internet infrastructure.
Messages on Bitchat are fully encrypted and ephemeral by design. They are never routed through or stored on central servers. Instead, they live temporarily on the user's device and disappear by default. No phone numbers, emails, usernames, or passwords are required. Users do not create accounts or leave identifying metadata behind. Bitchat doesn’t even collect usage data—a major departure from how most mainstream apps function.
The app also supports group messaging through what are known as “rooms.” These rooms can be identified by hashtags and secured with passwords. Another feature allows messages to be temporarily saved and forwarded later, in case the recipient is not currently connected to the mesh. This “store and forward” system ensures that communication isn’t lost when someone is offline.
Dorsey has indicated that WiFi Direct support will be added in the near future, which could improve both speed and transmission range. That enhancement would allow Bitchat to scale beyond the capabilities of Bluetooth alone, helping cover wider areas while remaining completely off-grid.
What makes Bitchat stand out even more is how closely it aligns with Dorsey’s broader mission of decentralization. His involvement in other projects like Bluesky and Damus shows his long-standing interest in giving users full control over their data and tools. While apps like WhatsApp or Messenger rely on cloud services and corporate infrastructures, Bitchat strips away all centralization and replaces it with local, secure communication.
In many ways, Bitchat isn’t just an app—it’s a philosophy turned into code. It’s a challenge to the current model of internet-based communication, where every message goes through company-owned servers and is subject to monitoring, censorship, or even shutdowns. Bitchat avoids all of this by creating a free-moving, user-powered system that’s hard to censor and nearly impossible to shut down.
Inspired by tools used in places like Hong Kong during mass protests and civil unrest, Bitchat is part of a growing movement to create resilient, censorship-proof technology. It provides a backup system for times when traditional networks are compromised or unavailable.
Though still in beta, Bitchat has already made a mark. Its success will ultimately depend on how widely it's adopted and how user-friendly future versions become. For now, it's clear that Dorsey isn’t just experimenting—he’s attempting to redefine how people connect when the usual options fail.Whether Bitchat remains a niche tool for tech-savvy users or grows into a mainstream solution, one thing is clear: it's reimagining communication from the ground up—and doing it without wires, servers, or surveillance.