Bitchat Goes Live: Dorsey’s Offline Messaging App Powered by Bluetooth Mesh

Jack Dorsey, the tech visionary behind Twitter and Block, has unveiled a new decentralized messaging app called Bitchat, designed to function entirely without the internet. Built on Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) mesh networking, Bitchat allows users to send messages directly to nearby devices, forming a peer-to-peer communication system that doesn’t rely on cellular data, Wi-Fi, or central servers.

Unlike traditional messaging apps, Bitchat requires no phone number, username, or email. It prioritizes privacy by using end-to-end encryption, and messages are stored only temporarily in device memory—unless the user chooses to save them. The platform turns each device into a node in a mesh network, relaying messages across others within a ~30-meter range, effectively expanding reach through multi-hop relays.

Bitchat also features a store-and-forward system. If the recipient is offline, the app can hold messages for up to 12 hours, and indefinitely for “favorites,” until delivery is possible. Users can create secure private chats, public broadcast channels, and encrypted group rooms with optional password protection. According to Dorsey, the app carries a nostalgic feel similar to early IRC chats but fortified with modern cryptography and offline resilience.

Currently in beta, Bitchat’s messaging system is tailored for areas with weak or no connectivity—making it useful in disaster zones, protests, remote regions, or places under censorship. Despite BLE’s bandwidth limits, messages are broken into small packets for reliable transmission, and future updates will add Wi-Fi support for larger data transfers and improved performance.

With Bitchat, Dorsey is taking a bold step toward decentralized, infrastructure-free communication. It reflects his ongoing mission to empower users with tools that operate beyond the control of centralized platforms—offering a secure, anonymous, and robust way to stay connected without relying on the internet.