Jack Dorsey Disrupts Messaging Again: BitChat Launches as Decentralized Bluetooth Comm Platform

Twitter-founder-turned-crypto-evangelist Jack Dorsey just fired another shot across Big Tech's bow—this time targeting the messaging wars.

BitChat cuts the cord (and the surveillance): The new Bluetooth-based platform promises offline-capable, decentralized comms—no internet, no carrier fees, no Meta-style data harvesting.

How it works: Using mesh networking protocols, BitChat devices create ad-hoc networks with a 100m range. Perfect for protestors, preppers, or just avoiding $5 airport WiFi scams.

The crypto angle: While not blockchain-based (yet), Dorsey hinted at future Bitcoin Lightning integration—because of course he did. Early testers report quirky UX but bulletproof encryption.

Wall Street won't care: No IPO, no ad revenue, and definitely no 'metaverse' buzzwords. Just another Dorsey project that makes VCs sweat while plebs actually use it.

What is Bitchat?

Bitchat is a privacy-first chat platform built on a store-and-forward architecture using BLE.

Its goal is to offer censorship-resistant communication that remains functional even during internet outages or infrastructure failures.

Bitchat operates across BLE mesh networks, allowing users to communicate securely within physical range. According to its white paper, each device serves as a client and server, relaying messages between users in a decentralized fashion.

This multi-hop design expands communication beyond the direct Bluetooth range, making it possible to reach offline or distant devices through nearby nodes.

Bitchat uses a custom BLE mesh protocol that lets devices scan for others within a 30-meter radius using a shared service UUID. Once discovered, they connect and create temporary mesh hubs. Messages are encrypted end-to-end and exist only in device memory by default, ensuring security and ephemerality.

Meanwhile, the platform also features a store-and-forward system.

Bitchat caches messages sent to temporarily offline devices, with tiered retention windows: 12 hours for regular peers and indefinite storage for selected favorites. Once those devices reconnect to the mesh, they automatically retrieve any stored messages.

Bitchat’s structure eliminates the need for phone numbers, emails, or permanent identifiers. It offers room-based messaging for group chats, complete with optional password protection.

Communication is encrypted at multiple levels, and digital signatures are used to authenticate messages.

The whitepaper concluded:

“bitchat demonstrates that secure, private messaging is possible without centralized infrastructure. 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.”