Bitchat is now on Radicle
Points and comments are a snapshot, not live.
BitChat is a decentralized messaging app using Bluetooth mesh and Nostr.
BitChat is a decentralized peer-to-peer messaging app with dual transport: local Bluetooth mesh networks for offline communication and the Nostr protocol for global reach. It requires no accounts, phone numbers, or central servers. Features include location-based channels using geohash coordinates, end-to-end encryption via the Noise Protocol (mesh) and NIP-17 (Nostr), IRC-style commands, and emergency wipe. The app is available on iOS and macOS, and its source code is hosted on Radicle.
It uses Bluetooth Low Energy for local mesh networking (up to 7 hops) and Nostr relays for internet-based messaging. Direct messages prioritize Bluetooth, falling back to Nostr, with smart queuing. Channel types include local Bluetooth mesh and location-based Nostr channels (block, neighborhood, city, province, region).
What commenters are saying
Commenters noted the app's unique offline Bluetooth mesh capability as its key differentiator from other decentralized messaging products like Nostr or XMTP. The name sparked debate, with some considering it intentionally provocative and others comparing it to the IRC client BitchX. A discussion about mesh network scalability noted that always-connected meshes don't scale, but store-and-forward meshes are workable. One commenter reported having the app installed in a large city but had not seen any other users.
Some commenters clarified that the project is explicitly in opposition to ATProto, and that Radicle (the hosting platform) is a decentralized code collaboration tool. Others pointed out that the Indian government had previously ordered GitHub to remove the app, though it remains available.