India Moves to Block Jack Dorsey’s Bitcoin-Linked Messaging App Bitchat

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India’s latest takedown order targets Bitchat, an offline Bluetooth mesh messaging app designed to transmit encrypted messages and even Bitcoin transactions without internet access. The move comes as protesters in Delhi—operating under the “Cockroach Janta Party” banner—turn to mesh-based tools to communicate during repeated internet shutdowns.

The directive was issued by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), which operates under the Home Ministry. It instructed GitHub to disable access to three repositories linked to Bitchat within three hours, citing provisions under Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act.

According to the notice, the app enables anonymous communication without requiring registration, phone numbers, or centralized data logs—features authorities say make lawful interception and investigation significantly more difficult.

Bitchat, created by Jack Dorsey, is a decentralized messaging platform that uses Bluetooth mesh networks to relay encrypted messages directly between devices. Released as open-source software in July 2025, it operates without servers, accounts, or internet connectivity.

The app is also designed to transmit Bitcoin transactions offline, passing them from device to device until one reconnects to the internet and broadcasts the transaction. This functionality aims to maintain payments during outages, disasters, or government-imposed shutdowns.

That same capability—permissionless communication and transactions—is what has drawn both strong support from Bitcoin advocates and concern from regulators.

Since July 20, major cities across India have seen widespread protests led by student groups criticizing a national exam scandal. Demonstrators have faced police action, including tear gas and baton charges, while authorities have repeatedly shut down internet access in affected areas.

Researchers report that protesters have increasingly relied on Bluetooth mesh apps like Bitchat to coordinate once connectivity is cut, making such tools a workaround to government-imposed restrictions.

The takedown request directly targets one of the technologies enabling that workaround.

It remains unclear whether GitHub complied within the three-hour deadline. As of Friday afternoon in Asia, the app was still available for download on major app stores.

While GitHub has previously restricted repositories in response to Indian legal orders, open-source software like Bitchat is often mirrored across multiple platforms—meaning removing one source rarely eliminates access entirely.