Jack Dorsey Unveils Bitchat, a Messaging App That Works Without Internet or User Accounts
Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter and CEO of fintech company Block, has launched an experimental messaging app designed to function entirely without the internet, servers, or even user accounts. The app, named Bitchat, was built over a single weekend and is now available in beta for iPhone users via Apple’s TestFlight.
Announced on Sunday, Bitchat uses Bluetooth-based mesh networking to enable peer-to-peer communication. This means messages can be sent between nearby devices even without cellular or WiFi connections. Messages hop from one device to another, extending reach across a local area – up to 300 meters – through a relay of connected users. The app requires no phone number, email address, or any identifiable account to function.
In a post detailing the app, Dorsey described it as a personal experiment in encryption, privacy, and decentralized architecture. Messages are stored only on users’ devices and disappear by default, reducing the risk of tracking, hacking, or censorship.
Inspired by past offline tools like Bridgefy – used during the 2019 Hong Kong protests – Bitchat is designed to be censorship-resistant and particularly useful in areas where internet access is restricted or unavailable.
Group chats, known as “rooms,” can be created using hashtags and optionally secured with passwords. The app also includes a store-and-forward feature, allowing messages to reach users who are temporarily disconnected once they rejoin the network. Future updates are expected to support WiFi Direct, further improving connection range and speed.
The beta release filled up rapidly, reaching its 10,000-user cap shortly after launch. A white paper outlining the technology behind the app has been published on GitHub, and Dorsey says wider availability is expected after Apple’s review.
Bitchat is the latest in Dorsey’s broader push for user-controlled, decentralized communication, following his support for other projects like Bluesky and Damus. It marks another step in his campaign to rethink how digital conversations happen in an era of increasing surveillance and centralized control.
