Overview

• XChat is now accessible in beta to paid X subscribers and features vanishing messages, file transfers and audio/video calls.
• Elon Musk says the service is built in Rust on a “whole new architecture” with “Bitcoin-style” encryption.
• Bitcoin Core developer Luke Dashjr and other cryptography experts have challenged the encryption claim, noting Bitcoin uses hashing and signing rather than message encryption.
• X paused its previous encrypted messaging feature for paid users last week to focus on improvements ahead of XChat’s rollout.
• The launch forms part of Musk’s push to turn X into an all-in-one app, following a soft launch of the X Money digital wallet.