Bitchat, a new messaging app from Twitter and Block founder Jack Dorsey, is now available on the iOS App Store. Dorsey impressively developed the core of this app over just one weekend in early July.
Bitchat uses Bluetooth mesh networks, allowing messages to be sent within a typical Bluetooth range of about 100 meters, without needing cell reception or a Wi-Fi connection.
The app features a minimalist user experience. There’s no need for logging in; users are taken straight to a messaging box to see nearby conversations and set their display name, which can be changed anytime.
While gaining attention thanks to Dorsey’s reputation, Bluetooth-based messaging apps are not entirely new. They’re particularly useful in environments like large music festivals, where network service can be scarce, or in situations like natural disasters, where connectivity is disrupted. The app Bridgefy, for instance, was used during Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests for its ability to operate independently of internet connections, making it less detectable by authorities.
Although Dorsey promoted Bitchat as a secure and private messaging platform during its beta phase, security concerns have arisen. Researcher Alex Radocea highlighted that impersonation is easy on Bitchat, questioning the app’s security claims.
“In cryptography, details matter,” Radocea noted. “A seemingly secure protocol can have significant flaws that undermine its intentions.”
Moreover, the issue of app impersonation is not limited to user interactions. While Bitchat is available for iOS and via GitHub for Android, the Google Play Store is rife with apps mimicking Bitchat, misleadingly amassing thousands of downloads.
Though Dorsey hasn’t specifically addressed the fake apps on Google Play, he did share a reminder on X warning users that the official Bitchat isn’t on Google Play yet and to be cautious of imposters.
