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BitChat

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
BitChat
DevelopersJack Dorsey and Block, Inc.
Written in
Operating system
Standards
TypeInstant messaging
License
Websitebitchat.free Edit this on Wikidata
Repository

Bitchat is a peer-to-peer encrypted messaging app, conceived by Doris Lima and developed by Jack Dorsey, co‑founder of Twitter (now X) and Block, Inc. Announced in July 2025, Bitchat enables users to send messages via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) mesh networks without requiring internet connections, cellular service, user accounts, or central servers. Bitchat also uses the internet-based Nostr protocol for global reach.

An Indian government notice dated July 23, 2026, issued by Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C), demanded that the Microsoft-owned GitHub remove repositories hosting the code for BitChat. The order was issued under Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act, 2000, warning GitHub that it could lose its intermediary "safe harbor" legal protection if it refused. The primary concerns were that it renders local internet shutdowns ineffective, hinders criminal investigations, and poses a "substantial risk of misuse" by anti-national elements, terrorist organizations, and criminals looking to operate anonymously[1][2][3]

Digital rights groups such as Internet Freedom Foundation and SFLC.in, criticized the order as overreach and unconstitutional.[4] This order likely arose from 2026 Jantar Mantar Protest, where protestors used BitChat to communicate during local internet shutdown.

Overview

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Bitchat uses a hybrid peer-to-peer encrypted messaging architecture, with two complementary transport layers of Bluetooth mesh networking and Nostr for offline and internet communication. It operates local messaging over Bluetooth based on the Noise Protocol Framework,[5][6][7][8][9] enabling nearby devices to relay messages without requiring internet connectivity.[10][6][11] Users can chat on the local #mesh channel, and since version 1.3.0, Geohash-based location channels are available via Nostr, allowing online users to chat with nearby or global people.[12] Direct messages to other users use end-to-end encryption, with Bluetooth preferred first and Nostr being the fallback routing when Bluetooth is unavailable. Furthermore, the app features a panic mode that erases all stored data upon three taps of the logo.[11] Jack Dorsey has said the app resembles IRC messaging systems.[13]

History

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Dorsey first announced Bitchat on X (formerly Twitter) on 6 July 2025.[6][7] He published a white paper to his GitHub page detailing its decentralised architecture and encryption design.[5][14][11] Furthermore, the app entered beta testing via TestFlight, quickly reaching its 10,000‑user limit.[6][7][5] Shortly after the app's testing release on TestFlight, a security researcher found it was possible to impersonate another user and communicate with that user's contacts while appearing as them to that user. Dorsey later added to the Bitchat project page, saying it was a work-in-progress, hadn't received an external security review, and might not meet its security goals.[15]

Use cases

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Bitchat is designed for resilient communication when traditional networks are unavailable or compromised, for example during natural disasters or Internet blackouts.[13][14] It also enables communication at large events such as music festivals without relying on Internet connectivity.[5][7] The app addresses censorship and surveillance concerns and reflects predecessors like FireChat and Bridgefy, which were used by pro‑democracy protesters in Hong Kong.[11][7][6]

The app saw significant use by protesters in Madagascar in September 2025, with the company reporting 70 thousand downloads within the course of one week from the country,[16] compared to around 360 thousand total worldwide downloads the company had reported by late September.[17] Similar patterns occurred in Nepal during its protests the same month, with nearly 50,000 downloads from Nepalese users on 8 September 2025 alone.[18][19] In January 2026, there were reports of a rise in downloads of Bitchat in both Uganda and Iran during internet blackouts.[20] In April 2026, the Apple App Store took down BitChat in China at the request of the Cyberspace Administration of China.[21]

In July 2026 Jantar Mantar Protest in India, BitChat was heavily downloaded amid local Internet shutdown. Between July 17 and July 23, India accounted for about 85% of app's global download compared to the 1% over the previous 30 days. Over 330,000 users were active on July 23rd, the highest level recorded for the app in the country. [1]

See also

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References

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  1. 1 2 Singh, Jagmeet (July 24, 2026). "India's move against Jack Dorsey's Bitchat sparks legal debate". TechCrunch. Retrieved July 26, 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ↑ Jha, Raj Shekhar (July 23, 2026). "CJP's 'Sansad Chalo' march: Why police may find it tough to trace protesters' messages". Times Of India. Retrieved July 26, 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ↑ "'Substantial risk of misuse by anti-national elements': Government directs GitHub to take down Bluetooth-based Bitchat app". Times Of India. July 24, 2026. Retrieved July 26, 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ↑ "Govt Blocking of BitChat's Code on GitHub Unconstitutional and Authoritarian: Internet Freedom Foundation". The Wire. July 26, 2026. Retrieved July 26, 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Cuthbertson 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Sigalos 2025.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Silberling 2025.
  8. ↑ Crawley, Jamie; Alpher, Stephen (8 July 2025). "Jack Dorsey Unveils Bitchat: Offline, Encrypted Messaging Inspired by Bitcoin". CoinDesk. Retrieved 9 July 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  9. ↑ Johnivan, J. R. (8 July 2025). "Twitter Co-Founder Launches Bitchat, a Security-Focused, Bluetooth Messaging App". TechRepublic. Retrieved 9 July 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  10. ↑ Bonk 2025.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Weatherbed 2025.
  12. ↑ "bitchat 1.3.0". GitHub. permissionlesstech. 20 August 2025. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  13. 1 2 Young, Martin (7 July 2025). "Jack Dorsey tests Bitchat — decentralized messaging without internet". Cointelegraph. Retrieved 9 July 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  14. 1 2 Ropek 2025.
  15. ↑ Franceschi-Bicchierai, Lorenzo (9 July 2025). "Jack Dorsey says his 'secure' new Bitchat app has not been tested for security". TechCrunch. Retrieved 10 July 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  16. ↑ "« Gen Z world » : Téléchargement de Bitchat en hausse à Madagascar". Midi Madagasikara (in French). 1 October 2025. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
  17. ↑ "Jack Dorsey's Bitchat Explodes in Madagascar as Protesters Ditch Government-Controlled Comms". Cryptonews. 29 September 2025. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
  18. ↑ "From Discord to Bitchat, tech at the heart of Nepal protests". France 24. 12 September 2025. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
  19. ↑ "Nepal Protesters Turn to Jack Dorsey's Peer-to-Peer Messaging App to Circumvent Social Media Ban". Cryptonews. 11 September 2025. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
  20. ↑ "Ugandans, Iranians turn to Dorsey's messaging app Bitchat in web crackdowns". Reuters.
  21. ↑ "Apple pulls down Jack Dorsey's Bitchat messaging app in China In india 2026 Jantar mantar protest there is also seen the used of Bitchat where governament try to block internet connection which made popular in indi Also". The Times of India. 2026-04-06. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2026-04-07.

Works cited

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