Elon Musk has revealed his next major move in the communications space, a standalone, privacy-first messaging platform called X Chat, which he boldly described as a “WhatsApp killer” during his recent appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast.
The billionaire entrepreneur said the upcoming app would combine strong encryption, complete user privacy, and seamless integration with the broader X ecosystem, promising a new era of secure digital communication.
A “Bitcoin-Style” Encryption System
Musk claimed X Chat would rely on a peer-to-peer (P2P) encryption model inspired by Bitcoin’s decentralized architecture, describing it as “the least insecure of any messaging system.” Unlike traditional apps that rely on centralized servers, X Chat’s encryption will reportedly route messages directly between users, without intermediaries and without exposing metadata to the platform itself.
The app will not require phone numbers, collect advertising data, or allow any access to message content by X or third-party services. Musk emphasized that X Chat will never use user data for ad targeting, a direct jab at competitors like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, which have faced criticism over data sharing and privacy practices.
Additional features will include disappearing messages, encrypted file sharing, and support for voice and video calls, all wrapped within a minimalist privacy-centric design.
From X Premium Beta to Global Rollout
X Chat is currently undergoing beta testing among X Premium subscribers, with Musk confirming that the standalone public launch will occur “within the next few months.” The service will also be integrated into the X platform but will operate independently as a downloadable application, aimed at users who prefer dedicated private messaging.
Musk’s announcement aligns with his broader vision of transforming X (formerly Twitter) into a universal digital hub, merging social media, payments, and now secure communications under one brand.
Expert Skepticism Over Security Claims
While Musk’s bold claims generated widespread excitement among his followers, cryptography experts have urged caution. Security researchers pointed out that the term “Bitcoin-style encryption” is non-standard and vague, raising questions about how the encryption mechanism will function in practice.
“Bitcoin doesn’t use encryption for messaging, it uses digital signatures for transaction validation,” noted cybersecurity analyst Dr. Alan Marks. “If X Chat truly wants to redefine secure communication, its cryptography must be transparent and independently audited.”
Experts have called for a comprehensive third-party security review before X Chat’s encryption model can be considered trustworthy, especially given Musk’s history of ambitious but unconventional technological claims.
A Bold Bid to Reshape Private Messaging
If successful, X Chat could emerge as a serious competitor in the global messaging market, where user trust has become as valuable as functionality. By removing ads, anonymizing communication, and emphasizing cryptographic security, Musk aims to position X Chat as the most private mainstream alternative to WhatsApp, Signal, and Telegram.
Whether it delivers on those promises remains to be seen, but in Musk’s words, X Chat is designed to “make private communication truly private again.”