Twitter Founder Launches WhatsApp Competitor That Uses Bluetooth
Jack Dorsey, CEO of Block and Twitter co-founder, has launched Bitchat, a new decentralized, peer-to-peer messaging app that runs entirely over Bluetooth mesh networks—no internet, servers, phone numbers, or emails required.
Key features:
- Ephemeral, encrypted communication between nearby devices
- Messages hop device-to-device, reaching beyond Bluetooth range via bridge devices
- No central infrastructure; messages are stored only on devices and disappear by default
- Supports group chats (“rooms”) with hashtags and passwords
- Store-and-forward allows delayed delivery for offline users
- Future update will add Wi-Fi Direct for faster, longer-range messaging
Dorsey calls it an experiment in privacy-first, censorship-resistant communication, similar to tools used during the 2019 Hong Kong protests. Bitchat reflects his broader push to decentralize communication, building on efforts like Damus and Bluesky. The beta is now available on TestFlight, with a white paper on GitHub.