Jack Dorsey, founder of Twitter (now X), has released the white paper for Bitchat, a new decentralized messaging platform designed to function entirely over Bluetooth. This innovative app aims to provide censorship-resistant communication, even in the absence of internet access.
Bitchat operates on a “store-and-forward” architecture using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) mesh networks. Its core principle is to enable peer-to-peer communication by transforming each device into both a client and a server, relaying messages between users in a decentralized manner. This multi-hop design extends communication beyond direct Bluetooth range, allowing messages to reach offline or distant devices through intermediary nodes.
The platform prioritizes privacy and resilience. Messages are end-to-end encrypted and, by default, reside only in device memory, ensuring security and ephemerality. Bitchat’s custom BLE mesh protocol facilitates device discovery within a 30-meter radius, leading to the creation of temporary mesh hubs for communication.
For temporarily offline devices, Bitchat employs a caching system with tiered retention. Messages are stored for 12 hours for regular contacts and indefinitely for selected “favorites,” to be retrieved automatically upon reconnection to the mesh.
Notably, Bitchat eliminates the need for phone numbers, emails, or permanent identifiers, enhancing user privacy. It supports room-based messaging for group chats, with optional password protection. Communication is secured through multiple layers of encryption and digital signatures for message authentication.
The white paper concludes that Bitchat “demonstrates that secure, private messaging is possible without centralized infrastructure,” offering a resilient communication solution “wherever people gather, regardless of internet availability.”
