Key Highlights
- Apple removed Bitchat from China’s App Store after regulators flagged its decentralized messaging as a risk to local internet rules.
- China’s CAC sees Bitchat’s offline mesh messaging as a threat to control, especially during internet shutdowns and protests.
- Despite the China ban, Bitchat continues gaining traction globally, driven by its privacy-first, internet-free communication model.
Apple has removed Bitchat, a decentralized messaging app developed by Block CEO Jack Dorsey, from its China App Store. The decision comes after China’s Cyberspace Administration (CAC) claimed the app violated local internet service regulations.
In an X post, Dorsey shared a screenshot from Apple’s app review team stating the app was removed in February, and the TestFlight beta version would also no longer be available in China. “Bitchat pulled from the China App Store,” he confirmed.
The CAC cited Article 3 of its regulations, which requires online services with public opinion or social mobilization capabilities to conduct a security assessment before launch.
Bitchat lets people send messages using only Bluetooth and mesh networks, meaning that it works without the internet. This feature has drawn attention in countries like Madagascar, Uganda, Nepal, Indonesia, and Iran, especially when governments cut off internet access during protests.
In this context, Chinese authorities view Bitchat as a potential threat to social control. Apple’s app review team also reminded developers that their apps must follow local laws, saying, “We know this stuff is complicated, but it is your responsibility to understand and make sure your app conforms with all local laws.”
How Bitchat works
Bitchat recently added a “location chat” feature, letting users connect with people nearby or join conversations worldwide. The system uses geohashes to divide the world into chat channels, and each user gets a pseudonym based on their location to protect privacy.
Messages move through decentralized relays, similar to Nostr, the open protocol Dorsey has long supported. The app’s usage is growing steadily. Chrome data shows over three million downloads, including 92,000 last week, while Google Play Store records more than one million registered downloads.
Competition and market context
Bitchat competes with WeChat, China’s most popular social app, run by Tencent. WeChat has 810 million users in China and 1.41 billion worldwide. On average, Chinese users spend about 79 minutes daily on the app.
During January to July 2025, it made more than $81 million through in-app purchases. WeChat Pay provides services to 935 million customers, while its mini-programs have 945 million active users monthly.
Approximately 65 million firms utilize WeChat Work for their business communications. Bitchat is significantly different from WeChat due to its decentralized approach, which presents unique regulatory and adoption issues.
Despite being banned in China, Bitchat remains accessible in other nations’ stores, indicating its continued global use.
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