Block CEO Jack Dorsey Launches Bitchat Beta Decentralized Messaging App

Block CEO Jack Dorsey has introduced Bitchat beta, a decentralized messaging application that operates over Bluetooth networks. This peer-to-peer system functions without the need for internet infrastructure, utilizing Bluetooth Low Energy mesh technology. The app ensures that messages remain encrypted and ephemeral, automatically relaying across connected devices. Dorsey developed this weekend project to explore Bluetooth mesh networking and encryption models for resilient communication.

Bitchat operates through a custom mesh networking protocol built on Bluetooth Low Energy technology. Each device functions simultaneously as both a central client and a peripheral server, creating automatic multi-hop message delivery across connected devices. The system forms local clusters based on physical proximity within 30-meter Bluetooth ranges. Bridge nodes connect separate clusters when devices overlap between different groups, allowing messages to hop across the entire network to reach distant peers automatically. No infrastructure requirements exist as the system runs completely peer-to-peer.

Each device that joins the network advertises itself as a BLE peripheral with the Bitchat UUID service. The devices continually scan for other devices advertising the same service identifier. Connection management handles a number of technical problems within Bluetooth Low Energy boundaries. The system maintains battery life through duty cycling while keeping the network alive. Peer tracking maintains active device lists with signal strength measurements. Automatic reconnection methods recover from lost connections gracefully without any manual interaction. The mesh network manages BLE connection limits through smart connection distribution, allowing devices to handle multiple connections in central and peripheral modes. The relay protocol extends messaging beyond direct Bluetooth communication range, enabling messages to be delivered to peers via intermediate device connections. This architecture builds robust communication networks in regions with no conventional internet infrastructure.

Bitchat uses automatic caching of messages if receivers are out of reach over direct links. The system buffers messages temporarily until target devices come back online to the mesh network. Regular peer messages receive 12-hour retention, whereas favorite peer messages cache indefinitely. Delivery is also done automatically upon previously out-of-range peers coming back into range of the network. Message IDs prevent duplicate delivery over multiple relay hops across the mesh, preventing spam as well as bandwidth consumption on attached devices. End-to-end encryption protects all private messages between users on the platform. No phone numbers, email addresses, or permanent identifiers are required for account creation. Messages exist only in device memory by default without server storage. The fleeting nature of the messages implies communications vanish upon delivery with no lasting records. Privacy features protect user identities without reducing messaging capability. No central servers store user data or communication history. Tiered retention policies weigh functionality against the privacy protection among varying user relationships. Connection limits are managed automatically within the Bluetooth Low Energy technical limitations. Peer tracking provides real-time lists of devices and signal strength measurements for best routing. Disconnections are managed by automatic reconnection without any manual user intervention or reconfiguration.

Bitchat addresses multiple scenarios where traditional internet-based messaging fails or faces restrictions. Conference attendees can communicate directly without relying on venue WiFi networks. The system works effectively in crowded environments where cellular networks become congested. Protest situations benefit from decentralized communication that avoids government monitoring or internet shutdowns. Activists can coordinate activities through mesh networks that operate independently from state-controlled infrastructure, providing censorship-resistant communication during civil demonstrations. Disaster areas lose their internet connection when the infrastructure is destroyed by natural accidents. The residents and emergency responders can remain connected through Bluetooth mesh networks. The system continues to function when the cellular towers and internet lines are disrupted. Remote locations lacking reliable internet access can establish local communication networks. Rural communities can connect devices without depending on distant cellular infrastructure. The mesh network creates local connectivity zones for immediate area communication.

Dorsey developed Bitchat as a weekend project to explore Bluetooth mesh networking concepts. He co-founded Twitter and also founded the decentralized social platform Bluesky in 2019. His departure from the Bluesky board occurred in May 2024 without public explanation.