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Elon Musk unveils X Chat, a new encrypted messenger
Elon Musk announced a standalone messaging app called "X Chat" that aims to rival Telegram and WhatsApp. Speaking on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Musk said the company rebuilt its messaging stack into a new peer-to-peer system with encryption "kind of similar to Bitcoin." He expects a rollout within the next few months and emphasized the app will avoid the advertising hooks many competitors rely on.
Peer-to-peer encryption inspired by Bitcoin
According to Musk, X Chat uses a peer-to-peer encryption model designed for strong privacy and minimal centralization. That architecture echoes principles familiar to blockchain and crypto communities — decentralized verification, minimized metadata exposure, and robust cryptographic protections. Musk said the team is rigorously testing the system to ensure it meets high security standards.
No advertising hooks, Musk says
Musk stressed that X Chat will not include the data collection features used by ad-supported platforms. He warned that systems which gather enough information to serve targeted ads can create "massive security vulnerabilities," since those same data models could be exploited by hackers to read private messages. His goal is to offer text, file sharing, and audio/video calls with what he described as "the least insecure" messaging stack available.
What this means for privacy and messaging apps
The announcement reignites debates about metadata, encryption, and backups. WhatsApp — owned by Meta — asserts that messages are end-to-end encrypted using the Signal Protocol, but it still collects metadata (who you message and how often) and does not automatically encrypt some chat backups. That distinction matters to privacy-focused crypto users and developers who prioritize minimizing centralized data collection.
While X Chat's approach is described as peer-to-peer and Bitcoin-like in its encryption philosophy, details about key management, backup encryption, and metadata handling remain to be published. Security-conscious users will be watching for transparency reports, open-source audits, and technical whitepapers that explain how X Chat secures messages and resists common attack vectors.
Where X Chat will appear
Musk said X Chat will be available both as part of the X platform and as a standalone app. For crypto and blockchain communities, a truly peer-to-peer encrypted messenger could complement decentralized applications and privacy-first tools — provided the implementation withstands independent review and avoids centralized data collection practices.
As the launch window approaches, expect more technical disclosures from X about encryption protocols, metadata policies, and how the app integrates with the broader X ecosystem. Crypto investors, privacy advocates, and developers will all be closely monitoring the rollout and any security audits that follow.
Source: cointelegraph
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