The Block CEO unveils a decentralized messaging app that uses Bluetooth mesh networks for encrypted offline communications.
Jack Dorsey, CEO of Block and co-founder of Twitter, has officially released the beta version of a peer-to-peer decentralized messaging service that operates via Bluetooth technology.
Over the weekend, Dorsey dedicated his time to an in-depth study of “bluetooth mesh networks, relays and store and forward models, message encryption models, and a few other things” before officially introducing Bitchat on X.
The Bluetooth mesh chat system evokes the early days of web-based messaging in the late ’90s, reminiscent of IRC (Internet Relay Chat), as Dorsey himself pointed out.
How Bitchat works
According to the white paper, Bitchat operates through Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) mesh networks. The system enables encrypted communications without relying on internet infrastructure, making it resistant to network outages and censorship.
The Bitchat network is designed to be fully decentralized, removing the need for central servers, accounts, email addresses, phone numbers for registration, or any infrastructure dependencies, the technical document states. The system implements “ephemeral messaging”, where messages exist only in the device’s memory by default and aren’t stored in central databases.
The mesh networking setup allows for automatic multi-hop message forwarding, while room-based chats can be configured as group chats named via hashtags with optional password protection. A “store-and-forward” system temporarily saves messages for offline peers for preset durations.
Each device acts as both a client and a node, creating a self-organizing mesh network where messages can hop between devices to reach distant peers. The system uses a Bluetooth range of 30 meters, with bridge nodes linking separate clusters.
Messages are encrypted based on type — private, room, or broadcast — and large messages are split into smaller 500-byte chunks. Future plans include enabling messaging over WiFi to increase bandwidth for heavier messages.
Use cases
The system is designed for various scenarios, such as conferences, protests, disaster-stricken areas, or any situation where internet infrastructure is unavailable, unreliable, or untrustworthy.
The document concludes that Bitchat demonstrates how secure and private messaging is possible without centralized infrastructure, stating:
“By combining Bluetooth mesh networking, end-to-end encryption, and privacy-preserving protocols, Bitchat provides resilient communication that works anywhere people gather, regardless of internet availability.”
