Jack Dorsey, the CEO of Block and co-founder of Twitter,  has disclosed in an X post recently that he had dedicated his weekend to the development of a Bluetooth messaging application known as Bitchat.

The name is likely derived from the words “bit” and “chat,” rather than the other possible combination.

Bitchat is a messaging application that functions through Bluetooth mesh networks, enabling users to transmit messages in the absence of Wi-Fi or cell reception.

This type of application is typically only functional within a 100-meter radius due to the technical constraints of Bluetooth.

Consequently, it is advantageous for scenarios such as locating acquaintances at a crowded music festival where cell service is intermittent.

Nevertheless, Dorsey asserts that his application has an extended range, capable of transmitting communications through peers to a maximum distance of 300 meters (984 feet).

Bridgefy, one of the most widely used Bluetooth messaging applications, was particularly utilized during pro-democracy demonstrations in Hong Kong.

This is due to its capacity to operate without internet connectivity, which complicates the detection process for Chinese authorities.

Bridgefy and Bitchat both assert that they are end-to-end encrypted.

Bridgefy is partially financed by Biz Stone, another co-founder of Twitter, which is a coincidence.

However, Dorsey’s recent venture into the development of Bitchat is logical in light of his long-standing interest in decentralizing technology.

He is a staunch supporter of Bitcoin and was the founder of the Bluesky project while serving as CEO of Twitter.

Dorsey is no longer associated with Bluesky in its current operational state.

Dorsey launched Bitchat to beta participants through Apple’s Testflight; however, the test is currently at capacity due to its 10,000-user limit.

He stated on X that the application is still undergoing review prior to its release.