Block CEO and Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey revealed over the weekend that he has been developing a new messaging app called Bitchat. The app, whose name appears to be a playful combination of “bit” and “chat,” is designed to function entirely through Bluetooth mesh networking. Unlike traditional messaging apps, Bitchat allows users to communicate without relying on Wi-Fi or cellular service.
Typically, Bluetooth-based applications are constrained to a maximum range of approximately 100 meters, which makes them useful in crowded events like music festivals or crowded stadiums, where connectivity can be problematic. However, Dorsey says Bitchat enhances this limitation by relaying messages among nearby devices, extending its practical range to up to 300 meters (984 feet).
Dorsey has long been an advocate of decentralized technology—previously leading Twitter’s push into decentralized social media with Bluesky and expressing ongoing support for Bitcoin. Although he no longer has a formal connection with Bluesky, Bitchat aligns with Dorsey’s continued enthusiasm for technologies that promote decentralization and user independence.
The most notable example of an existing Bluetooth messaging app is Bridgefy, which rose to prominence among pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong. Its internet-free design made surveillance and censorship efforts by Chinese authorities more difficult. Bridgefy has confirmed its service employs end-to-end encryption for extra security protections, a measure Dorsey asserts Bitchat also includes.
Interestingly, another of Twitter’s founders, Biz Stone, previously invested in Bridgefy, giving the two pioneering Twitter executives a shared interest in exploring technology that circumvents centralized communication channels.
Bitchat launched its beta trial via Apple’s Testflight recently, quickly reaching capacity at 10,000 users. According to Dorsey, the Bitchat app is now under Apple’s app review process, and he anticipates a wider release following approval.
