Twitter Co-Founder Unveils Decentralized Messenger, Bitchat, That Works Offline

Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter and CEO of Block, has launched a beta version of Bitchat — a decentralized peer-to-peer messenger that functions entirely via Bluetooth. In a tweet, Dorsey said he spent the weekend diving into “Bluetooth mesh networks, relays, storage and forwarding models, encryption, and more.” The result: the Bitchat project, introduced on Sunday.

Bitchat resembles early internet chat protocols like IRC. The app operates on a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) mesh network, with no central servers, email accounts, phone numbers, or traditional infrastructure. Messages are encrypted and stored only temporarily on devices.

Unlike centralized messengers like WhatsApp and Messenger, which are controlled by profit-driven corporations and often collect user data, Bitchat provides a private, censorship-resistant communication channel. Messages hop from one device to another in a 30-meter Bluetooth range, forming a self-managed network.

The system supports private, group, and broadcast messaging, with messages split into 500-byte chunks. Future updates may include Wi-Fi support for greater bandwidth. Bitchat can be used at protests, in disaster zones, or anywhere internet access is limited or unreliable.

By combining mesh networking, encryption, and privacy protocols, Bitchat proves that secure, decentralized communication is possible — even without the internet.