Former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey has unveiled a new project, BitChat, an offline-capable social messaging platform designed to challenge Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter).
Dorsey introduced the app as a personal side project focused on exploring Bluetooth mesh networking, encrypted communication, and decentralized message transmission.
In a post shared over the weekend, Dorsey said:
“My weekend project is to learn about Bluetooth mesh networks, relays and store-and-forward models, message encryption models, and a few other things.”
BitChat operates on a store-and-forward architecture, where messages are relayed between Bluetooth-enabled devices until they reach their final destination. This setup allows users to communicate without the need for traditional internet or cellular connectivity.
Though still in its early development stage, the concept behind BitChat reflects Dorsey’s ongoing interest in decentralization and privacy-focused technology.
Dorsey stepped down as CEO of Twitter in November 2021. Less than a year later, in October 2022, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk acquired the company for $44 billion and later rebranded it as X.
BitChat represents a fresh take on peer-to-peer communication and could serve as an alternative in environments with limited or no internet access.