Jack Dorsey Launches Bitchat Decentralized Messaging App Over Bluetooth

Jack Dorsey, the CEO of Block and co-founder of Twitter, has announced the launch of Bitchat, a decentralized messaging platform that operates entirely over Bluetooth. The app is designed to function without internet access, utilizing Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) mesh networks for peer-to-peer communication. This innovative approach aims to provide censorship-resistant communication that remains operational even during internet outages or infrastructure failures.

Bitchat is built on a store-and-forward architecture, ensuring that messages are encrypted end-to-end and exist only in device memory by default. This design enhances security and ephemerality, as messages are not stored on centralized servers. The platform features a multi-hop design, allowing communication beyond the direct Bluetooth range by relaying messages through nearby nodes. Each device in the Bitchat network serves as both a client and server, creating temporary mesh hubs that facilitate secure communication within a 30-meter radius.

The app uses a custom BLE mesh protocol, enabling devices to scan for others within the specified range using a shared service UUID. Once discovered, devices connect and form mesh hubs, ensuring that messages are securely transmitted. Bitchat also includes a store-and-forward system, caching messages sent to temporarily offline devices with tiered retention windows. Regular peers have a 12-hour retention window, while selected favorites can store messages indefinitely. Once devices reconnect to the mesh, they automatically retrieve any stored messages.

Bitchat eliminates the need for traditional identifiers such as phone numbers or emails, offering room-based messaging for group chats with optional password protection. Communication is encrypted at multiple levels, and digital signatures are used to authenticate messages, further enhancing the platform's security and privacy features.

The whitepaper for Bitchat concludes that the app demonstrates the feasibility of secure, private messaging 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. This development marks a significant step forward in the field of decentralized communication technologies, offering users a new way to communicate securely and privately in an increasingly connected world.

Dorsey’s exploration in decentralized tech, evident by Bitchat, continues without influencing major crypto exchanges or blockchain protocols. Potential shifts in tech standards dwell around the app's decentralized communication approach devoid of tokens, reducing regulatory attention. Bitchat's reliance on device-based messaging makes it unique and possibly impactful on future communication norms.

Dorsey’s involvement in decentralization extends without integration of blockchain systems. The project’s innovative use of BLE might shift future decentralized app models, emphasizing encrypted communication methods over traditional chains. The app's launch hasn't affected crypto markets, as it avoids using cryptocurrency transactions.