Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey has started rolling out Bitchat for iPhone users. The messaging app that doesn’t need an internet connection to operate is now available on the Apple App Store. The app uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) mesh networking to enable encrypted, peer-to-peer messaging without requiring any Wi-Fi, mobile data, or centralised servers. Unlike other messaging platforms such as WhatsApp or Telegram, Bitchat is entirely decentralised.
Notably, there is no user registration, no email or phone number required, and no central server storing conversations. Plus, messages are end-to-end encrypted, stored only on user devices, and will automatically be deleted after a short time. Here’s how Jack Dorsey’s new messaging app works.
Bitchat relies on Bluetooth Mesh Networking, where localised clusters are formed by nearby devices (within ~30 metres). As users move, their phones act as message relays, helping deliver messages across greater distances without requiring traditional network infrastructure.
Notably, the app does not use any form of internet connection, including Wi-Fi or mobile networks, making it especially useful in emergencies, remote areas, or during internet shutdowns.
One of the key highlights of the newly launched messaging platform is that it does not require any central servers or account registration, helping users to maintain their anonymity.
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While the Bluetooth messaging app is claimed to be secure, Dorsey has added a warning to Bitchat’s GitHub page: “This software has not received external security review and may contain vulnerabilities and does not necessarily meet its stated security goals. Do not use it for production use, and do not rely on its security whatsoever until it has been reviewed.”
This warning now also appears on Bitchat’s main GitHub project page, but was not there at the time the app debuted.