Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter and CEO of Block, is back in the tech spotlight with a bold innovation: Bitchat, a messaging app that works without an internet connection.
Designed for privacy, decentralization, and resilience, Bitchat is unlike traditional chat apps. It leverages Bluetooth mesh networking to enable communication even when Wi-Fi and mobile networks are down or unavailable.
Currently in beta for iOS, Bitchat has already hit its 10,000 tester limit via Apple’s TestFlight. This surge of interest highlights the growing demand for private, secure, and offline-first communication tools, especially in today’s surveillance-prone digital world.
How Bitchat Works Without Internet
Bitchat uses peer-to-peer (P2P) Bluetooth mesh networking. This allows devices to connect and forward messages through nearby smartphones, forming a local network. Here’s how it operates.
This makes Bitchat ideal for use in music festivals, remote villages, crowded protests, or natural disaster zones where internet coverage is weak or intentionally blocked.
Bitchat is end-to-end encrypted, ensuring only the sender and receiver can access the messages. Even intermediary devices that relay messages can’t decrypt them. Plus, the app doesn’t store any data, serve ads, or track users.
Some standout privacy features include:
- Emergency Wipe: Triple-tap the logo to delete all local data instantly.
- Cover Traffic: Sends fake messages to mask real communication.
- Dummy messages: Help hide real activity.
- Store & Forward: Delivers queued messages once the recipient is back online.
User-Friendly Yet Powerful
Despite its complex backend, Bitchat keeps the interface simple.
Although Bitchat is still in beta, its immediate popularity shows it fills a real need. With no official release date yet, Android users can expect support soon thanks to the app’s portable protocol.
As concerns around privacy, censorship, and connectivity grow, Bitchat may become an essential tool for secure communication in critical moments.
