A fresh startup, Germ, is stepping up to enhance the Bluesky social network by introducing end-to-end encrypted messaging. This innovation offers a more secure chat option compared to Bluesky’s current direct messages. After more than two years of development, Germ is launching its encrypted DMs in beta this week, with plans to gradually add testers before a public release.
This cutting-edge technology, much of which is open-source, might eventually allow Bluesky to incorporate encrypted messaging directly into its app.
Germ aims to challenge major encrypted platforms like iMessage, Signal, and WhatsApp by leveraging modern technologies, such as the Internet Engineering Task Force-approved Messaging Layer Security (MLS) and the AT Protocol (ATProto), which serves as the backbone for Bluesky.
Unlike some messaging apps that require a phone number, Germ connects directly with ATProto. This integration allows users to communicate securely with friends across various platforms like Bluesky, Flashes, and Skylight, while offering enhanced user experience controls.
Users can customize who can send them DMs based on their Bluesky connections, and even manage blocking preferences across Bluesky and other ATProto apps.
Co-founders Tessa Brown, a former Stanford communications scholar, and Mark Xue, an ex-Apple privacy engineer, conceived Germ. Brown highlights that genuine private communications are essential for healthy social networks, while Xue sought to move beyond phone numbers as the mainstay for secure messaging.
Germ’s unique service operates via a “magic link” that users paste into their Bluesky bio. When clicked by another iOS user, it enables instant chat without needing to download a separate app. This is made possible through Apple’s underutilized App Clips, allowing users to engage with a snippet of an app without full installation.
While the user interaction is seamless, the underlying technology is complex. Each link functions as a cryptographic key, authenticating the user’s ATProto identity with their Bluesky handle.
From the App Clip, users can opt to install the full Germ iOS app for additional features, such as friend lists and Bluesky integration. Although there were minor pairing issues during tests on an iOS 26 developer version, starting the chat from the App Clip first proved effective.
Brown is enthusiastic about working within Bluesky’s growing community, which has drawn influential figures in U.S. politics. She is optimistic that Germ’s protocol could gain broader adoption as Bluesky continues to expand.
Currently free, Germ may introduce a premium subscription in the future, offering advanced services like private AI features and personalization tools.
The startup has secured pre-seed funding from angel investors, including an MLS co-author and trust and safety experts, along with institutional support from K5 Global and Mozilla Ventures. Looking ahead, the team aims to develop an Android version with additional funding.
