Jack Dorsey Launches Bluetooth Messaging App Bitchat on iOS
A New Offline Messaging App Hits the App Store
The Bluetooth messaging app Bitchat, developed by Twitter and Block founder Jack Dorsey, has officially launched on the iOS App Store. Built in a single weekend in early July, the app enables users to send short messages over Bluetooth mesh networks without relying on mobile data or Wi-Fi.
Once opened, Bitchat skips logins and user authentication entirely. Instead, users are dropped into a live chat window where they can assign themselves a display name—changeable at any time—and view messages from nearby users within Bluetooth range, typically up to 100 meters.
This stripped-down approach reflects Dorsey’s known preference for decentralized, minimal interfaces. But while the launch has attracted attention, questions about privacy, impersonation, and platform control quickly followed.
What Bitchat Offers at Launch
The Bluetooth messaging app Bitchat is designed to work completely offline. Using Bluetooth mesh networking, it allows device-to-device communication in real-time without any internet infrastructure. This makes it potentially useful in low-signal environments like concerts, remote locations, or disaster zones.
There is no setup process, no login credentials, and no cloud-based account storage. The goal appears to be spontaneous, anonymous, and peer-to-peer communication. Upon downloading the app, users immediately enter a shared chat where local messages are visible.
The app’s minimalist user experience and decentralized structure are part of its appeal—but they’re also what make it vulnerable.
Security Risks Undermine the Privacy Promise
Despite being presented as a secure and private alternative to mainstream messaging apps, Bitchat has raised red flags among cybersecurity professionals.
Security researcher Alex Radocea discovered that users can impersonate each other within the app due to the absence of identity verification protocols. This flaw undermines the app’s core claim of secure, anonymous communication.
Radocea wrote that “a protocol that has the right vibes can have fundamental substance flaws.” Following the criticism, Dorsey admitted that Bitchat has not undergone any external security audit, leaving open the possibility of deeper vulnerabilities in its protocol.
Fake Android Apps Add to Rollout Confusion
While Bitchat is now live for iOS users, its absence from the Google Play Store has led to additional problems. Multiple fake apps, misrepresenting themselves as Bitchat, have appeared on the platform and garnered thousands of downloads. These clones are not affiliated with Dorsey and raise further questions about user safety.
Instead of making an official statement, Dorsey reposted a user’s alert on X (formerly Twitter), confirming that Bitchat is not yet on Google Play and advising users to “beware of fakes.” Until an official Android version is released—currently only available via GitHub—the risk of misinformation and misuse remains high.
Launch Success Hinges on Trust and Transparency
The launch of the Bluetooth messaging app Bitchat introduces an interesting offline-first alternative to conventional messaging tools. With a lightweight interface and a decentralization-first design, it taps into rising concerns around surveillance, connectivity, and digital control.
However, the app’s vulnerability to impersonation and the chaotic Android landscape suggest that privacy cannot be achieved with simplicity alone. For Bitchat to evolve beyond a novelty, it must address its security shortcomings and build clearer trust mechanisms for its user base.
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