Jack Dorsey’s Bluetooth Messaging App Bitchat Launches on App Store
- Twitter Founder, Jack Dorsey’s new Bluetooth messaging app has launched on app stores, with warnings over fakes
- The new app, which requires no internet or SIM, works with Bluetooth and is seen as a strong rival to Meta’s WhatsApp
- However, there is a surge in a surge of fake apps on the Google Play Store, with some racking up thousands of downloads
Legit.ng’s Pascal Oparada has reported on tech, energy, stocks, investment and the economy for over a decade.
Jack Dorsey, famed tech innovator and founder of Twitter and Block (formerly Square), has released a new messaging app called Bitchat, now available on Apple’s App Store.
The app, which Dorsey says he coded over a single weekend in early July, enables local messaging via Bluetooth mesh networks—no mobile signal or internet required.
Source: Getty Images
No Wi-Fi? No problem with the Bitchat app
Unlike mainstream messaging platforms, Bitchat embraces a stripped-down, log-in-free interface.
When users launch the app, they are immediately dropped into a messaging window, where they can post messages visible to others within roughly 100 meters via Bluetooth.
Bitchat's key appeal is its ability to function entirely offline, making it ideal for environments where connectivity is limited or monitored.
Bluetooth-based messaging apps like this are popular during large gatherings such as music festivals or in crisis zones like natural disaster areas.
Historically, similar technologies have played important roles in political movements.
Notably, Bridgefy, another Bluetooth messaging platform, gained traction during the Hong Kong pro-democracy protests, helping users communicate without internet exposure and government surveillance.
No sign-ups, just type and broadcast freely
The user experience of Bitchat is intentionally basic. There's no account creation, password, or even phone number verification.
Users simply choose a display name, which they can change at any time, and begin messaging anyone nearby.
This minimalist approach has sparked both admiration and skepticism—especially around privacy and authenticity.
Privacy promise faces security backlash
Although Dorsey pitched Bitchat as a “secure, private” messaging app, cybersecurity researchers have challenged those claims.
Expert Alex Radocea highlighted a flaw that makes it easy to impersonate others on the app—raising alarm bells over its supposed protection features.
“In cryptography, details matter,” Radocea warned. “A protocol that has the right vibes can have fundamental flaws that compromise everything it claims to protect.”
No external review before going live
Following the criticism, Dorsey admitted that Bitchat has not undergone any independent security audits.
This admission casts doubt on the platform’s resilience against malicious attacks or misuse, particularly in politically sensitive or vulnerable situations.
The app may offer convenience and novelty, but its security model is far from battle-tested.
Fake Bitchat apps flood Google Play
Adding to the controversy is a surge of fake Bitchat apps on the Google Play Store, with some racking up thousands of downloads.
According to a report by TechCrunch, the real version is currently only available on iOS and as a direct APK file on GitHub for Android users.
Dorsey has not directly responded, but he did reshare a warning on X urging users to “beware of fakes.”
New experiment or next-gen privacy tool?
Whether Bitchat becomes a niche tool or gains mass appeal remains to be seen. Its simplicity and offline capability are a fresh take in a surveillance-heavy digital age, but security vulnerabilities may limit its growth.
Source: Getty Images
One thing is certain: Jack Dorsey’s latest experiment has sparked a new conversation about how we communicate when no one’s watching.
Jack Dorsey releases new app that tracks sun exposure
Legit.ng earlier reported that Jack Dorsey, Twitter co-founder, has released a new app.
After launching Bitchat, a Bluetooth-based messaging app earlier this month, Dorsey unveiled a new app called Sun Day that helps users track Ultraviolet (UV) exposure and vitamin D intake.
The new app is already available on TestFlight on iOS, and its code is also on the open-source platform, GitHub, for cloning.
Source: Legit.ng
