Dorsey’s Offline Chat and Bitcoin App Surges Amid Iran, Uganda Shutdowns

Jack Dorsey’s offline messaging app Bitchat is seeing a sharp rise in adoption as internet shutdowns disrupt communications in countries like Iran and Uganda.

Built to function without the internet, central servers, or user accounts, the app is gaining attention during elections, protests, blackouts, and similar situations when traditional messaging platforms often fail.

According to data from analytics firm Apptopia, Bitchat has recorded more than 28,000 downloads in 2026, nearly quadrupling its installs from the prior two months combined.

The surge has been particularly visible in Uganda, where the app climbed to the top of Apple’s and Google’s app store rankings ahead of a contentious national election. In Iran, its popularity has grown amid state-imposed internet shutdowns aimed at suppressing protests.

How Bitchat Works Without The Internet

Bitchat relies on Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and mesh networking rather than mobile data or Wi-Fi. Messages are relayed from phone to phone, forming a decentralized network where each device acts as both a sender and a relay.

Though BLE has a limited direct range, the mesh structure allows messages to “hop” across many devices, extending communication far beyond a single connection. 

Crucially, messages are stored only on users’ devices, disappear by default, and never pass through centralized servers. Users don’t need phone numbers, email addresses, or logins, which are the features that echo Dorsey’s long-standing advocacy for privacy-focused, censorship-resistant communication.

Messaging, Bitcoin, And Protest-Ready Tech

Beyond messaging, Bitchat also enables Bitcoin (BTC) transfers without an internet connection, allowing users to exchange value peer-to-peer even during blackouts, as demonstrated in a video shared by Bitcoin Teddy in an X post on January 28.

This feature has drawn attention from activists, journalists, and privacy advocates who see offline payments as a powerful tool amid financial and communication infrastructure restrictions.

The app is free, open-source, and available on both Android and iOS. Developers can audit the code, contribute improvements, or fork the project to build custom versions with added features.

Dorsey previously described Bitchat as a “weekend project” designed to explore Bluetooth mesh networks, encryption models, and store-and-forward messaging. 

Its sudden relevance, however, highlights a familiar pattern: from Twitter during the Arab Spring to mesh-based apps used in Hong Kong protests, decentralized tools often gain traction precisely when centralized systems fail.

More Must-Reads:

• Vitalik Warns Crypto’s Biggest Risk Isn’t Hackers – It’s Something Worse
• DOGE Waits Its Turn as Gold Goes Parabolic
• Smart Money Scoops Up Cardano as Retail Capitulates