Block CEO Jack Dorsey Launches Decentralized Messaging Service Bitchat

Block CEO and Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey has introduced the beta version of a new decentralized peer-to-peer messaging service called Bitchat. This innovative service operates entirely over Bluetooth, eliminating the need for internet connectivity. Dorsey shared his experience over the weekend, delving into the intricacies of Bluetooth mesh networks, relays, store and forward models, message encryption models, and other related technologies. He described Bitchat as having "IRC [Internet Relay Chat] vibes," reminiscent of the early days of web-based messaging systems in the late 1990s.

Bitchat is designed as a decentralized messaging application that functions over Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) mesh networks. According to the white paper, the system provides ephemeral, encrypted communication without relying on internet infrastructure, making it resilient to network outages and censorship. The network is fully decentralized, with no central servers, accounts, email addresses, phone numbers to register, or infrastructure dependencies. Messages exist only in device memory by default and are not stored on a central database, ensuring an extra layer of security through end-to-end encryption.

Unlike popular messaging applications such as WhatsApp and Messenger, which are run by centralized, profit-driven corporations that use personal and message data as a product, Bitchat offers a completely decentralized and private communication experience. Mesh networking enables automatic multi-hop message relaying, and room-based chat can be set up with hashtag-named group chats and optional password protection. A "store-and-forward" system caches messages for offline peers for set time periods, ensuring that communication remains uninterrupted even in the absence of internet connectivity.

Each device in the Bitchat network acts as both client and peripheral, creating a self-organizing mesh where messages can hop between devices to reach distant peers. The system uses a 30-meter Bluetooth range with bridge nodes connecting separate clusters. Messages are encrypted based on whether they are private, in a room, or broadcast, and large messages are fragmented into smaller 500-byte chunks. Future plans include enabling messaging over WiFi, which will increase the bandwidth for large messages.

The system has several use cases, such as conferences, protests, disaster areas, or any scenario where internet infrastructure is unavailable, unreliable, or untrusted. The paper concluded that Bitchat demonstrates that secure, private messaging is possible without centralized infrastructure. By combining Bluetooth mesh networking, end-to-end encryption, and privacy-preserving protocols, Bitchat provides resilient communication that works anywhere people gather, regardless of internet availability.

Dorsey's involvement in messaging protocols is well-known, having served as the CEO of Twitter and founding the decentralized social messaging platform Bluesky in 2019. He left the Bluesky board without explanation in May 2024. Bitchat represents another step in Dorsey's efforts to create decentralized communication systems that prioritize privacy and security.