Elon Musk Announces New Features for XChat Messaging App
Elon Musk recently took to X to announce the upcoming release of a new version of X’s Direct Messaging feature, known as XChat. This new version will include a variety of exciting features such as vanishing messages, encryption, file sharing capabilities, and enhanced audio and video calling support.
The rollout of these new features is currently limited to a select group of beta testers, with Musk stating that the X team plans to make XChat available to all users within the week, barring any unforeseen scaling issues.
Musk revealed that the updated version of XChat has been built on Rust with what he described as “Bitcoin-style” encryption and a “whole new architecture.” However, some industry experts have questioned Musk’s use of the term “Bitcoin-style encryption,” as Bitcoin itself does not use encryption in the traditional sense, relying instead on public key cryptography and signatures for security.
Image Credits:
X post by Samson Mow (opens in a new window)
Musk has previously expressed his desire to position X’s DMs as a competitor to encrypted messaging platforms like Signal and iMessage. However, the use of the term “Bitcoin-style encryption” has raised doubts about XChat’s true capabilities as a secure messaging service.
Additionally, Musk announced that XChat users will now be able to make audio and video calls across all platforms without the need for a phone number. This move coincides with X’s decision to pause work on encrypted DMs, suggesting that XChat will soon replace the current messaging system.
Despite these exciting developments, X has faced recent challenges with service stability, leading to multiple outages that impacted users’ ability to access features like XChat. Nevertheless, Musk remains optimistic about the future of XChat and its potential to revolutionize the way users communicate online.
