Bitchat, a messaging app created by Twitter and Block founder Jack Dorsey, is now available to download from the iOS App Store. Dorsey revealed that he coded the foundation of the app over a weekend in early July.
The app operates using Bluetooth mesh networks, allowing users to send messages to others within Bluetooth range—typically around 100 meters—without needing cell reception or Wi-Fi.
Bitchat features a minimalist user experience. There is no login system, and users are immediately taken to a messaging interface where they can see nearby conversations and set a display name, which can be changed at any time.
While Bitchat has drawn attention due to Dorsey’s involvement, Bluetooth-powered messaging apps are not new. Such apps are often used in scenarios with limited connectivity, such as large music festivals or natural disasters. For example, the app Bridgefy gained prominence during pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong because it functioned without internet access, making it harder for authorities to monitor.
Dorsey initially promoted Bitchat as a secure and private messaging platform when it launched in beta earlier this month. However, security researcher Alex Radocea highlighted a critical flaw in a blog post, noting that impersonation is easy within the app, raising doubts about its security claims.
Radocea emphasized that in cryptography, details matter, and a protocol that seems secure on the surface may still have fundamental flaws. Dorsey later acknowledged that the app had not undergone an external security review, meaning potential vulnerabilities could exist.
Another concern involves fake versions of Bitchat. While the official app is available on the iOS App Store and can be sideloaded on Android via GitHub, the Google Play Store hosts several imitation apps posing as Dorsey’s creation, some of which have thousands of downloads.
Dorsey has not directly commented on the fake apps but reshared a post warning users that Bitchat is not yet on Google Play and advising caution against imposters.