USA: Jack Dorsey launches Bitchat messenger without Internet and SIM cards

Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter and CEO of the financial technology company Block, introduced a new messenger Bitchat, focused on absolute autonomy, privacy and decentralization. The app does not require an Internet connection, registration by phone number or email, and works exclusively via Bluetooth mesh networks.

According to the developer, the idea of Bitchat is to create an alternative to traditional centralized messengers, providing users with the possibility of anonymous and stable communication, especially in conditions of limited network access, blockages or disconnections.

The main principle of Bitchat is to build local Bluetooth networks, in which each device acts as a node that receives and transmits encrypted messages. This model allows you to create temporary clusters, and when such clusters intersect, messages can be transmitted from one user to another over considerable distances — without using the Internet, mobile communications, or servers.

Additionally, storage and forwarding mechanics are implemented — messages can "travel" over the network until they reach the recipient, using other users ' devices as intermediate media. All communications are temporary and encrypted by default. Information is not transmitted to the cloud or stored on external servers.

To interact with Bitchat, you don't need a username, password, or ID — just a physical presence within Bluetooth range. Users can create groups (rooms) that are identified using hashtags and can be protected with passwords. This approach makes the app attractive for activists, journalists, those who work in closed regions, or simply for supporters of digital anonymity.

In the future, the messenger will support Wi-Fi Direct, which will significantly expand the range and stability of the connection. Bitchat also already supports deferred message delivery, allowing devices to temporarily stay offline, but continue to participate in data transmission when they return to the cluster.

According to Dorsey, the project is an experiment in peer-to-peer communications, cryptography, and autonomous computing networks. All Bitchat documentation is publicly available on GitHub, and the beta version of the app is available through TestFlight.

Jack Dorsey has previously stated his commitment to decentralized platforms, supporting alternatives to traditional social networks and services. The launch of Bitchat reflects the growing global interest in infrastructures independent of Internet service providers, government regulators, and technology monopolies.