Nepal’s Youth Turn to Decentralized Messaging Amid Government Crackdown

Nepal witnessed a dramatic surge in downloads of Jack Dorsey's Bitchat app, with over 48,000 installations as protests against government corruption intensified. The peer-to-peer messaging platform, which operates via Bluetooth mesh networks, became a critical tool for circumventing internet censorship after authorities blocked major social media platforms.

The government's attempt to suppress dissent by restricting access to Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp backfired spectacularly. Violent demonstrations erupted, resulting in 19 fatalities and widespread destruction, including arson attacks on parliamentary and judicial buildings. Bitchat's censorship-resistant architecture—enabling encrypted communication without internet infrastructure—catapulted it to prominence among tech-savvy protesters.

This adoption spike underscores a broader global trend: decentralized technologies are becoming lifelines in authoritarian contexts. While no specific cryptocurrencies were directly involved, the event highlights the growing intersection between blockchain-adjacent privacy tools and political upheaval.