Jack Dorsey’s Bitchat: The Neighborhood Chat App You Didn’t Know You Needed! 😂

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So, let me get this straight. Jack Dorsey’s Bitchat is a chat app, or is it just a grand experiment to see how we can all live without any central authority? I mean, who needs that, right? 🙄

  • Jack’s little messenger, Bitchat, is going from short-range Bluetooth mesh to location-based chat. Because, you know, nothing says “I want to talk” like a temporary pseudonym! 🎭
  • Payments are now part of messaging. Great! Just what I need-more ways to get spammed while trying to chat with my neighbor about their lawn! 🌿
  • But wait! Apple’s in-app payment rules are lurking around like a bad smell, and privacy risks are just waiting to pounce. What a delightful mess! 😅
  • Will Bitchat become the next big thing in neighborhood economies, or just another techie pipe dream? Stay tuned! 📺

Table of Contents

Bitchat moves from offline mesh to city-scale messaging

On August 21, Jack Dorsey announced that Bitchat is adding “location chat.” Because, you know, chatting with strangers in your neighborhood is exactly what we need! 🙃

coming very soon to bitchat: location chat. chat with anyone in nearby regions (block/neighborhood/city/region/country). or teleport to anywhere in the world via a geohash.

it works by using geohashes to map the world into chat channels, uses a new pseudonym per geohash for…

– jack (@jack) August 21, 2025

So, geohashes are like GPS coordinates turned into grid squares. Because who doesn’t want to be a number in a grid? Sounds fun! 🎉

Messages are sent through Nostr relays. You know, the decentralized protocol that Jack has been championing for years. It’s like a secret club, but without the cool jackets. 🕶️

Bitchat was just introduced a few weeks ago. On July 6, Dorsey released it in beta. Because nothing says “trust me” like a beta app! 🙈

and here’s an ugly whitepaper describing protocol:

– jack (@jack) July 6, 2025

The first version allowed messages to be sent over Bluetooth within 300 meters. So, if you’re within shouting distance, you can chat! How convenient! 📢

And let’s not forget the “panic mode” that deletes all data instantly. Because who doesn’t want a little chaos in their life? 😱

With this new feature, Bitchat is moving from short-range messaging to broader communication. It’s like going from a kiddie pool to the ocean-just a little more risky! 🌊

A system held together by three independent layers

To understand Bitchat, you need to know about the three pieces that hold it together: geohashes, Nostr relays, and Bitcoin payment rails. Sounds like a party, right? 🎊

A geohash takes your latitude and longitude and turns them into a short code. Because why not make things more complicated? 🤷‍♂️

Instead of pinpointing your exact location, it puts you in a grid. A six-character geohash covers about one square kilometer. So, you can be anonymous while still being in the same neighborhood. What a concept! 🏘️

In Bitchat, that grid becomes a chat room. Everyone gets a new pseudonym. It’s like a masquerade ball, but with more awkwardness! 🎭

Messages are carried over Nostr, which is like the cool kid in school that doesn’t need a central server. If one relay goes down, the party keeps going! 🎉

Payments are already part of the system. NIP-57 describes “zaps,” which are Lightning tips. Because who doesn’t want to tip their friends for a good chat? 💸

These layers explain the foundation of Bitchat. None of them are untested ideas. They’re like the leftovers in your fridge-some are good, some are questionable! 🥴

What crypto adds that plain chat can’t

Bitchat could be a normal messenger, but it’s special because payments are baked in. It’s like a cake with a surprise inside! 🎂

On Nostr, users rely on “zaps.” Some communities even require a tiny payment to post. Because nothing says “welcome” like a toll booth! 🚧

In Bitchat, this could work at the local level. A refundable micro-fee to keep the chat clean. Genius! Or is it? 🤔

Another area is local commerce. In 2024, Nostr clients processed millions of Lightning zaps. People are comfortable sending small payments. It’s like giving a tip for a good joke! 😂

Since Lightning payments settle instantly, they’re perfect for casual exchanges. Because who wants to wait for a bank to process a payment? Not me! ⏳

Past crises have shown the demand for this kind of tool. During the 2019 protests in Hong Kong, mesh apps surged. Bitchat could offer the same benefit, but with money built in. What a time to be alive! 🌍

Payments on Nostr are getting more private. Some wallets use Cashu, creating anonymous Bitcoin-backed tokens. Because who doesn’t want to pay in secret? 🤫

The practical tests that will decide Bitchat’s future

For Bitchat to go from experiment to everyday tool, it needs to navigate some real-world challenges. Buckle up! 🎢

The first is platform policy. In 2023, Apple made the Damus client remove Lightning “zaps.” Because who needs innovation when you have rules? 🙄

If Bitchat enables pay-to-post or tipping, it might face the same restrictions. Apple’s policy could prevent the app from being, you know, useful. What a shocker! 😳

The second issue is privacy and safety. Geohashes hide exact GPS points, but repeated activity can still reveal patterns. It’s like trying to hide in plain sight! 🕵️‍♂️

Bitchat gives users a new pseudonym in each geohash, but protecting anonymity at scale? Good luck with that! 🙈

Then there’s Lightning’s optics. Public channel capacity has dropped. Critics say it’s a sign of weakening usage. Developers say it’s not a big deal. Sounds like a classic case of “he said, she said.” 🤷‍♀️

Both realities matter. The network is working, but headlines about shrinking capacity? That’s just great for public perception! 🙄

Another challenge is relay economics. Nostr relies on independent servers. If only a few relays dominate, we’re back to centralization. It’s like a bad sequel nobody asked for! 🎬

So, Bitchat needs to comply with platform rules, protect user privacy, maintain confidence in payments, and keep relay operators happy. No pressure! 😅

In the end, Bitchat will show whether it’s possible to merge local conversation with Bitcoin payments in a way that’s private, resilient, and practical. If it works, great! If not, well, at least we learned something! 🤷‍♂️

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2025-08-22 19:45