**“Whatsapp Killer?” Elon Musk Reveals X Chat, a Bitcoin-Style Encrypted Messaging App**
During his latest appearance on *The Joe Rogan Experience*, tech billionaire Elon Musk revealed plans for a new standalone messaging platform called **X Chat**. The app aims to deliver enhanced privacy and security using what Musk describes as “Bitcoin-style encryption.”
### X Chat Promises Bitcoin-Style Encryption
Musk explained that the new platform would use peer-to-peer encryption, similar to the technology behind Bitcoin. This system is designed to offer strong privacy and security. Currently in testing, X Chat is expected to be released in the next few months.
“On X we just rebuilt the entire messaging stack. It uses a sort of peer-to-peer based encryption system, similar to Bitcoin. I think it is a very strong encryption method. There are no hooks in the X system for advertising,” he said.
### No Hooks For Advertising
Taking a jab at competitors like WhatsApp, Musk emphasized that X Chat has no advertising hooks. This means it won’t collect user data for ad targeting or marketing purposes.
“That is a massive security vulnerability, because if it has enough information to show you ads, it has a lot of information,” Musk said, highlighting the privacy risks for users.
He added that such systems could easily be exploited, turning private messages into potential privacy risks—something X Chat aims to avoid completely.
### WhatsApp Pushes Back on Musk’s Claims
WhatsApp was quick to respond to Musk’s comments. The company refuted the claims, emphasizing that all personal messages on WhatsApp are end-to-end encrypted.
WhatsApp also stated that it cannot see users’ messages and does not use them for advertising purposes.
### What’s Next for X Chat?
While Musk acknowledged that X Chat is not yet perfect, he shared the ambitious goal of replacing X’s old direct messaging system with the new fully encrypted platform.
The upgraded system will allow users to send text messages, share files, and make both audio and video calls. Musk described it as the “least insecure of any messaging system”.
### Mixed Reactions From The Community
Reactions from the community have been divided. Some X users expressed excitement about the launch, calling it a potential “WhatsApp killer” and welcomed increased competition in the messaging space.
However, others voiced concerns over potential risks. One user pointed out that if X can display messages, it could technically access them. Another stressed that X Chat should not be fully trusted until it undergoes an independent third-party security audit, a standard practice for encryption-based tools.
### Expert Criticism and Clarifications
Back in June, when Musk first teased that X Chat was being built in Rust and would feature “Bitcoin-style” encryption, experts criticized the description.
They noted that Bitcoin relies on digital signatures—not encryption—and that terms like “Bitcoin-style” and “Rust” do not describe an encryption scheme nor guarantee strong security for a messaging app.
### Conclusion
Elon Musk’s vision for X Chat represents a bold step toward privacy-focused messaging. However, the mixed reactions and expert critiques highlight that trust and transparency will be key to its success in delivering a truly secure messaging platform.
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