Jack Dorsey’s Bitsoar: Bitchat Downloads Explode 300% as Madagascar Protests Intensify

Decentralized messaging app Bitchat witnesses unprecedented adoption surge amid government internet crackdown

When governments pull the plug, citizens find new sockets

Bitchat's encrypted platform bypasses traditional communication channels, offering protesters secure messaging while authorities struggle to monitor conversations. Downloads tripled within 48 hours as street demonstrations turned violent.

The architecture leverages blockchain-based encryption that makes message interception nearly impossible—protest organizers coordinate movements while financial transactions flow through Bitcoin's Lightning Network.

Traditional telecom companies reported complete service suspension in capital districts, yet Bitchat usage spiked 450% in affected areas. The app's peer-to-peer protocol routes messages through multiple nodes, creating digital resistance against centralized control.

Meanwhile, legacy financial institutions continue charging fees for international wire transfers that take three business days—protesters meanwhile move funds instantly for the cost of a satoshi.

Digital sovereignty isn't coming—it's already here, and it doesn't need permission to work.

Recent protest breakouts

The protests began on September 25, 2025 in the country’s capital, Antananarivo, which led to clashes with law enforcement and an increase in looting instances. This, in turn, resulted in the Malagasy government removing its energy minister and imposing a curfew.

The rise in Bitchat installation in Madagascar is not an isolated incident. Similar situations in other nations were recently seen, including Nepal and Indonesia, where violent anti-corruption protests also led to an increase in its user base.

Google statistics

According to data from Google Trends, searches for “Bitchat” spiked from 0 to 100, showcasing “peak popularity” on September 26, particularly in the Antananarivo region. Other related search queries such as “Bitchat download” and “how to use Bitchat” also saw a surge recently.

Chrome-Stats data also shows a global increase in the app’s popularity, showing more than 21,000 installations in the last day and over 71,000 in the past week. However, these statistics do not specify the geographic origin of the downloads.

Growing Popularity of Bitchat

Bitchat was launched in July 2025 by Jack Dorsey, Block CEO and X co-founder. The app operates over bluetooth mesh networks. It requires no internet, no servers, no phone numbers, which helps in maintaining user anonymity. It’s designed for privacy, working offline with end-to-end encryption, no user accounts, and messages that are deleted after a short time.

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