Jack Dorsey’s Bitchat Gains Traction in Jamaica Amid Hurricane Melissa
As Hurricane Melissa disrupts communication across the Caribbean, Jack Dorsey's decentralized messaging app Bitchat has surged to become the second-most downloaded app in Jamaica. The app's offline functionality, leveraging Bluetooth mesh networking, has proven critical for residents facing widespread power and internet outages.
Bitchat's rapid adoption highlights the growing demand for resilient communication tools during crises. Launched in July 2025, the app requires no internet connection or phone number, using encrypted peer-to-peer messaging to maintain connectivity when traditional infrastructure fails.
The app trails only weather tracking platform Zoom Earth in Jamaica's app stores, underscoring how disaster response priorities drive technology adoption. This organic growth demonstrates the potential for decentralized solutions in emerging markets and crisis scenarios.
