Elon Musk is pushing forward with his vision for an “everything app” by introducing XChat — a feature-rich, encrypted messaging system that’s currently rolling out to select users of X (formerly Twitter). Promising Bitcoin-style encryption, vanishing messages, and seamless cross-platform audio/video calling, the feature reflects a bold step in reshaping private communication.
All new XChat is rolling out with encryption, vanishing messages and the ability to send any kind of file. Also, audio/video calling.
This is built on Rust with (Bitcoin style) encryption, whole new architecture.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 1, 2025
XChat: A New Encrypted Messaging Experience
On Sunday, Elon Musk announced the rollout of XChat, calling it a “whole new architecture” built with speed, security, and decentralisation in mind. Developed in Rust, a language praised for memory safety and concurrency, XChat is designed to offer end-to-end encrypted messaging, disappearing messages, audio/video calling, and file sharing all without requiring a phone number.
In Musk’s words, XChat will provide a communication layer that prioritises privacy and autonomy, fitting neatly into his long-term goal of transforming X into a global “everything app” akin to WeChat, but decentralised.
Bitcoin-Style Encryption: Misunderstood or Marketing Spin?
The most talked-about aspect of XChat is its “Bitcoin-style encryption”, a phrase that raised eyebrows among cryptography experts. Critics were quick to point out that Bitcoin doesn’t actually use encryption in the conventional sense. Instead, Bitcoin employs public-private key cryptography and hashing, but data within the network isn’t encrypted.
All new XChat is rolling out with encryption, vanishing messages and the ability to send any kind of file. Also, audio/video calling.
This is built on Rust with (Bitcoin style) encryption, whole new architecture.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 1, 2025
Samson Mow, CEO of Jan3 and a prominent figure in the Bitcoin space, highlighted this distinction, stating bluntly on X, “Bitcoin isn’t encrypted.” Another BTC core developer criticised the choice of Rust, calling the language “woke” and suggesting it may not be the best option from a security standpoint. Nonetheless, the use of Rust indicates Musk’s team is focused on performance and memory safety, both crucial in secure messaging systems.
It remains unclear whether “Bitcoin-style encryption” refers to a decentralised key architecture, elliptic curve cryptography, or something else entirely. Given Musk’s track record of using buzzwords to drive engagement, the phrase may be more marketing than technical specification.
Vanishing Messages and Calling Without Numbers
Beyond encryption, XChat introduces features that are increasingly in demand among privacy-conscious users. Vanishing messages inspired by platforms like Signal and WhatsApp are set to become a core part of XChat. These self-deleting messages give users more control over their digital footprints.
Even more revolutionary is the ability to place audio and video calls without phone numbers. This makes XChat not just a messaging tool, but a potential replacement for traditional telecom infrastructure, bringing Musk one step closer to merging social, financial, and communication functions within a single platform.
A Step Towards the “Everything App” Vision
Musk has long hinted at his ambition to build an “everything app”, and XChat is a natural progression in that direction. X first introduced encrypted DMs for paid users in May 2023, but the feature was limited and eventually paused for improvements. With XChat, the company seems to be doubling down on privacy, security, and functionality.
Importantly, X was unusually transparent about the limitations of its encryption when it first launched the earlier version. That openness, if maintained, could help build trust among users, especially if XChat evolves into a platform that supports not just secure communication, but also payments, document exchange, and business interactions.
