Jack Dorsey’s Bitchat: Revolutionizing Messaging Without the Internet
Jack Dorsey, the guy behind Twitter and now running Block, just dropped something wild called Bitchat. He called it a "weekend project" where he geeked out on Bluetooth mesh networks, encryption, and message relaying tech. Bitchat’s not like your usual messaging apps—it works without Wi-Fi or data. It uses Bluetooth Low Energy to connect devices directly, so your chats stay private and don’t touch the internet. No big servers or data grabs like WhatsApp or Telegram. It’s built to keep things simple, secure, and totally off-grid.
It’s already out in beta for iPhone users through TestFlight, and Dorsey just announced it’s hitting Android too. This could be a total game-changer for staying connected when the internet’s down or in places where access is spotty.
What is Bitchat?
Bitchat’s this cool messaging app Jack Dorsey cooked up that lets you chat using Bluetooth, so you don’t need internet or cell signal. Forget WhatsApp or Telegram, which need servers and your phone number. Bitchat connects your phone directly to others nearby, like within 30 meters or so. And if your buddy’s a bit farther, it can bounce messages through other devices to reach them. It’s super hard to kill this thing, which is awesome for places with bad connections or where someone’s trying to block communication.
Dorsey said on X, It’s got this retro IRC feel, like those old chat rooms from the early internet days. Bitchat’s super focused on privacy; you don’t need to give up your email or number, and your messages are totally secure with encryption. Your chats don’t hang around forever either; they’re just on your phone and then gone, so no one’s snooping through old messages. You can send private texts or make group chats, throw in some hashtag names, and even lock them with passwords. If your friend’s too far or offline, Bitchat holds your message and sends it when they’re close again. It’s all about keeping you connected anywhere; no fancy tech is required.
What Makes It Stand Out
- No Central Control: It doesn’t need servers, so it’s not at the mercy of some big network.
- Keeps You Private: No need to share personal info, and your chats are encrypted.
- Messages Don’t Linger: Your texts vanish after a bit, so there’s less chance of a data leak.
- Group Vibes: Make group chats with hashtag names and optional passwords.
- Works Offline: Saves your messages and delivers them when your friend’s back in range.
How Does Bitchat Work?
Bitchat’s magic is all about using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) in a clever way called a mesh network. Here’s the deal: every phone running Bitchat can send a message and also pass one along, like if you tell your friend something and they tell someone else. Bluetooth usually only works for about 30 meters, but Bitchat lets your message hop from phone to phone, so it can travel much farther, like 300 meters or even more if there are enough people nearby using the app. If your buddy’s out of range, your message just hitches a lift through other Bitchat phones to get to them.
The app’s got some smart tricks under the hood to make it work smoothly and keep your chats private:
- Message Hopping: It uses a system that limits messages to seven hops so they don’t get stuck bouncing around forever. This keeps things fast and efficient.
- Hold for Later: If your friend’s offline, Bitchat saves your message and sends it when their phone’s back in range.
- Locked Down Chats: Your messages are super secure with fancy encryption (think top-level stuff like X25519 and AES-256-GCM for private chats and Ed25519 to make sure it’s really you). Group chats get extra protection with passwords turned into keys using something called Argon2id.
- Breaking Up Big Messages: If your message is too long (over 500 bytes), Bitchat chops it into smaller bits to send it reliably.
- Battery and Speed Tweaks: It compresses messages with a tool called LZ4 to save data and has modes that ease up on your battery when you’re running low.
Moreover, Bitchat incorporates advanced privacy features. It sends fake “cover” messages to hide your real ones and mixes up the timing of when messages go out, so no one can snoop on your patterns. All this tech makes Bitchat not just a cool way to chat without internet, but also a fortress for keeping your conversations private and reliable.
Where Bitchat Really Rocks
Bitchat’s knack for working without internet makes it a total lifesaver in all sorts of situations. Here’s where it shines:
- Music Fests and Packed Events: You’re at a crazy festival, no bars on your phone. Bitchat lets you fire off a text to your pals to pick a meetup spot, and it hops through other folks’ phones to reach them.
- Protests and Rallies: When the government kills the internet, like back in Hong Kong in 2019 and Bangladesh in 2024, apps like Bitchat keep everyone connected so they can stay safe and make plans right then and there.
- Disaster Zones: If a hurricane or earthquake wipes out cell service, Bitchat helps firefighters, paramedics, and locals chat with each other to get help where it’s needed quickly.
- Off-the-Grid Spots: Out in the middle of nowhere with no Wi-Fi? Bitchat lets people in the area text each other, keeping everyone in the loop.
- Privacy Buffs: If you’re not cool with big apps snooping on your data, Bitchat’s got your back with a private, no-personal-info-needed way to chat.
What’s Next for Bitchat?
Jack Dorsey’s got some big ideas for where Bitchat’s headed. He’s talking about adding Wi-Fi Direct, which could make the app way faster (think speeds over 250 Mbps) and let it reach farther, like 100-200 meters. That’d make it even handier for all sorts of situations. They’re also messing around with wild stuff like ultrasonic communication for short, low-key chats when you’re super cclose nd LoRa for sending messages long distances, especially in emergencies like disasters. Plus, there’s a plan to tie in something called Nostr, which could link up separate Bitchat networks so your messages can travel across bigger areas, even if they don’t arrive right away.
Since Bitchat’s open-source and up on GitHub, anyone can jump in, suggest tweaks, or check the code to make sure it’s legit. That keeps things transparent and lets the community help make it better. Dorsey just dropped on X that Bitchat’s now on Android, which shows they’re moving fast, with tons of folks in the open-source world pitching in to keep the momentum going.
Bitchat’s a game-changer for how we stay in touch without leaning on the usual internet setup. Using Bluetooth mesh networks, it’s a super secure and tough-to-break way to chat that doesn’t need Wi-Fi or cell service. With its open-source vibe and Jack Dorsey’s push for communication that can’t be silenced, Bitchat is shaping up to be a go-to for anyone who cares about privacy. Whether you’re at a packed music fest, organizing during a tough situation, or just want a low-key way to talk with friends, Bitchat lets you connect on your terms, no strings attached.