Bitchat will allow you to chat with your neighborhood bitcoiners and beyond
On August 20, Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter (formerly X) and a relevant figure in the Bitcoin ecosystem, presented the upcoming functionality of its Bitchat messaging app.
Bitchat, as ChryptoNoticias explained, is a person-to-person messaging app (P2P) that operates without internet dependence and is open source. It also serves to send Bitcoin (BTC).
With this update, the app promises to transform user interaction by integrating chats based on geographical location, with a particular focus on connecting Bitcoin enthusiasts locally.
The new functionality, described by its creator as “location” (location chat), will allow users to communicate with people in nearby regions, ranging from blockages and neighborhoods to cities, regions, or countries, according to Dorsey.
The new system in Bitchat, according to Dorsey, will use geohashes, a method that encodes locations in short chains of letters and numbers, dividing the world into hierarchical chat channels.
Each geohash generates a unique pseudonym to preserve privacy, avoiding the direct use of accurate GPS data.
In addition, the spread of messages is done through decentralized relays through Nostr, a communication protocol designed to transmit information without centralized intermediaries, resisting censorship.
This ensures that the data does not depend on a single server, aligning with the decentralized principles of Bitcoin.
A geohash acts as an approximate location label, while Nostr distributes messages without centrally storing them, ideal for those interested in privacy.
A distinctive feature is the option of “Telport,” which allows users to join chats from any world geohash, not just their physical location.
This new Bitchat feature not only fosters the connection between local bitcoiners but also offers a valuable tool for P2P transactions, anonymously and decentralizedly.
By removing reliance on centralized platforms, which can be vulnerable to tracking and security breaches, users can interact and trade Bitcoin with greater privacy.
Finally, Jack Dorsey indicated that the new feature will soon be available for Apple devices, marking one more step in integrating cryptographic technologies into everyday applications.
About The Author
