Imagine sending Bitcoin or secure messages with zero internet. No Wi-Fi, no cell signal—just your phone and BitChat. Jack Dorsey’s latest app makes that possible. But is it hype, or the future of offline freedom-tech?
Key Takeaways
- No Internet Required: BitChat transmits messages and Bitcoin over Bluetooth mesh networks.
- Privacy First: No emails, phone numbers, or servers. Fully encrypted.
- Offline Bitcoin Transfers: You can initiate a transaction offline and let others upload it later.
- Perfect for Emergencies: Ideal for internet blackouts, disaster zones, or censorship-heavy countries.
- Still Experimental: It’s clever but not flawless—requires other users around and has some security caveats.
How does BitChat send Bitcoin without internet?
BitChat lets users create and sign Bitcoin transactions offline using a separate wallet. The signed transaction is then relayed over a Bluetooth mesh network through nearby devices. Once a connected device is found, it broadcasts the transaction to the blockchain. This enables Bitcoin transfers without the sender needing an internet connection.
Jack Dorsey’s Radical New Experiment
Let’s be real. Most apps claiming to change the world don’t. But every once in a while, something comes along that makes you stop and go: “Wait, what?”
That’s BitChat.
Brought to life by Jack Dorsey’s TBD team (part of Block Inc.), BitChat is a completely decentralized messaging app that works without Wi-Fi, cellular data, or even SIM cards. No phone number required. No email. No internet at all. Just pure peer-to-peer communication over Bluetooth.
So what makes BitChat so exciting? Well, it doesn’t just let you send messages offline. It lets you send Bitcoin. Yes, actual Bitcoin transactions—no traditional network needed. Crazy, right?
Let’s unpack how that works.
How BitChat Works
At a glance, BitChat might look like your average stripped-down chat app. But behind the minimalist design lies a surprisingly advanced networking protocol that could redefine communication under constraint.
1. What Is Bluetooth Mesh Networking?
Most messaging apps work by sending data through the internet: you send a text, it hits a server, then pings the recipient.
BitChat skips all that. Instead, it forms a local Bluetooth mesh. Each phone running BitChat acts like a tiny signal tower, creating a living, breathing network of connected devices that pass data from one to another.
Think of it as a digital version of the old-fashioned chain letter. You write a message or create a signed Bitcoin transaction. Your phone passes it to the next closest BitChat user. That user then passes it along—and so on—until it reaches someone who can upload it to the internet or deliver it directly.
In ideal conditions (like open air or dense crowds), the Bluetooth range can extend up to 300 meters. In cities or indoors, expect around 30 meters. Not massive, but enough to form a resilient chain if enough people are using it.
2. Privacy Is Built-In
In a world where everything we do online is tracked, BitChat flips the script. The app requires no sign-up. No phone number. No username. You’re assigned a temporary, random identity.
Messages and Bitcoin transactions are protected using state-of-the-art encryption:
- Curve25519 for secure key exchange
- AES-GCM for message confidentiality and integrity
The result? Even the devices relaying your messages can’t read them. And if you ever feel at risk, BitChat includes a Panic Mode that wipes all local data instantly.
🔥🔥@Jack Dorsey and our team just released a Bluetooth messaging app called ‘Bitchat’ that doesn't need the internet or cell service.
— BitChat App (@Bitchat_App) July 8, 2025
Within an hour, users have started sending bitcoin using the peer-to-peer encrypted mesh network.#crypto #Bitchat $BTC $ETH #Decentralized #AI pic.twitter.com/G4IwmhxI6K
Sending Bitcoin Without Internet? Here’s the Trick
Alright, so this is where things get really interesting.
BitChat isn’t hosting a Bitcoin wallet. It doesn’t hold your funds. Instead, it acts as a messenger for signed Bitcoin transactions. Here’s the step-by-step breakdown:
Step 1: You Create and Sign the Transaction Offline
Using a separate Bitcoin wallet (like Sparrow, BlueWallet, or Electrum), you create and sign a transaction. This transaction is not yet broadcast to the Bitcoin network. Think of it like writing a check and signing it.
The signed transaction file is then handed off to BitChat.
Step 2: BitChat Sends It via Bluetooth Mesh
BitChat wraps the transaction in an encrypted package and starts hopping it from phone to phone. No internet needed. Just Bluetooth.
It might take 5 hops. It might take 50. But eventually—
Step 3: A Peer Uploads It to the Blockchain
At some point, a phone in the chain connects to the internet. Maybe someone walks into a coffee shop or turns on mobile data. BitChat automatically detects the connection and uploads the transaction.
Boom. Your offline Bitcoin is now live on the blockchain.
So, Is It Really Internet-Free?
You don’t need the internet. But someone does.
BitChat cleverly outsources the final delivery step to anyone in the mesh who comes online. That’s the genius. You don’t need to be connected, but the system still works.
In places with high censorship or blackout conditions, this is massive. It makes digital payments possible when the internet is blocked or broken.
Real-World Scenarios: When BitChat Shines
Let’s talk use cases. Because BitChat isn’t about impressing crypto bros on Twitter. It’s about solving real-world problems where traditional infrastructure fails.
1. Protest Zones and Authoritarian Regimes
In countries where governments shut down the internet to silence dissent, BitChat offers a workaround. Organizers can send updates, coordinate actions, or distribute aid without relying on surveilled channels.
2. Disaster Relief and Emergency Response
When an earthquake, flood, or war takes out cell towers, communication becomes critical. BitChat enables first responders and civilians to pass messages or even financial help without a network.
3. Festivals, Stadiums, and Remote Locations
Ever tried texting at a music festival? It’s a joke. Cell networks jam up. But BitChat thrives in crowded environments. More people = better mesh.
And in remote places with no towers? You can still message your group or send Bitcoin to a local guide.
4. Censorship-Proof Transactions
Imagine living in a country where your government blocks Bitcoin. With BitChat, you can create a transaction, pass it offline to someone leaving the country, and let them upload it from a free network.
This is more than tech. This is freedom.
What Makes BitChat Different from Other Mesh Apps?
We can compare it directly to Bridgefy, Briar, FireChat, and mesh-based payment solutions to highlight where BitChat excels or falls short.
| Feature | Signal | Bridgefy | BitChat | |
| Requires Internet | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Supports Bitcoin Transfers | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Fully Decentralized | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| No Sign-Up Needed | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
What BitChat Gets Right (And Wrong)
Let’s be honest: no tool is perfect. BitChat is still experimental, and it comes with trade-offs.
The Good:
- Unmatched privacy
- Zero reliance on centralized infrastructure
- Works in internet dead zones
- Empowers individuals under censorship
The Limitations:
- Slow confirmation: Transactions aren’t real-time. Delivery depends on other users.
- Sparse network: If no one nearby has BitChat, nothing gets through.
- Battery consumption: Running Bluetooth constantly drains your phone.
- No built-in wallet: You need a separate app to generate transactions.
- Security is evolving: No formal audits yet. Use with caution.
The Origin Story: Built in a Weekend
BitChat wasn’t a grand commercial launch. It was a passion project, sparked during a weekend hackathon.
Jack Dorsey’s TBD division wanted to experiment with truly decentralized communication. Using their AI code assistant, Goose, the team built the first version in just a few days.
Inspired by apps like Briar and Bridgefy, BitChat became an open-source contribution to the freedom tech ecosystem.
Currently, iOS testers are capped at 10,000 via TestFlight. Android users can sideload from GitHub. No App Store listing—yet.
Conclusion: Is BitChat the Future?
BitChat is not your next everyday messenger. It’s not trying to replace WhatsApp or Venmo. It’s an experiment with heart — a proof-of-concept showing how we might build resilient systems when the internet can’t be trusted.
In disaster zones, under authoritarian rule, or in off-grid communities, it could be transformative. Not because it’s slick or seamless, but because it works when nothing else does.
So, should you use it?
- Yes, if you value privacy, decentralization, and resilience.
- Maybe not, if you just want fast payments and convenience.
Either way, BitChat is a glimpse into what peer-to-peer technology can do when it’s built for people, not platforms.