Bitchat by Jack Dorsey: The Chat App That Works Without Internet

Knowledge Barrel
3 days ago
2 min read

What if you could message your friends without internet, Wi-Fi, or mobile data? Sounds impossible? Not anymore. Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey has launched a new app called Bitchat that lets you chat completely offline. This powerful idea is already turning heads—and it might just change the future of communication.

What is Bitchat?

Bitchat is a private, encrypted messaging app that works without the internet. Built by Jack Dorsey and his team at Block, it uses Bluetooth mesh networking to send messages directly from phone to phone—even when you're completely offline.

You don’t need a phone number, email, or even a username. Just install the app, and you're ready to chat.

How Does It Work?

Bitchat runs on Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), allowing it to create a mesh network of nearby phones. Here’s what that means:

You send a message using Bitchat.
If the person is nearby, they get it instantly via Bluetooth.
If they’re far away, the message travels from phone to phone until it reaches them.

This method is called message hopping, and it works best in places with more users nearby—like events, protests, or crowded cities.

Why It Matters

Jack Dorsey created Bitchat with a simple mission: to make communication possible anywhere, anytime, even when the internet is down or censored.

This makes Bitchat useful for:

Emergency situations
Remote or rural areas
Natural disasters
Events where networks are jammed
Countries with internet blackouts

In short, it’s a chat app that works even when everything else fails.

Key Features of Bitchat

Works Without Internet: No mobile data or Wi-Fi needed.
Fully Encrypted: Messages are end-to-end encrypted using strong security.
No Account Required: No phone number, email, or login needed.
Private Channels: You can set passwords to protect chat groups.
Panic Mode: Triple-tap the app icon to erase all messages instantly.

These features make Bitchat one of the most privacy-focused chat apps out there.

Is It Safe?

Bitchat was built with security in mind. However, the app is still in beta, and Jack Dorsey himself admits it hasn’t gone through full security testing yet.

It uses:

Curve25519 encryption
AES-GCM encryption for content
Offline-only message transfer

So while it’s very secure in theory, experts recommend waiting for official audits before using it for extremely sensitive chats.

How to Try Bitchat

Currently, Bitchat is in limited beta testing:

Available on Android and iOS via TestFlight
Capped to around 10,000 testers
Public release is expected after more development

If you’re lucky enough to get access, you can already try out direct messaging, private channels, and offline chat features.

Built With AI, Fast

Interestingly, Jack Dorsey built Bitchat as a “weekend project” using Goose, an AI coding tool developed by Block. Within just 24 hours, the app was up and running—showing how fast innovation is happening in 2025.