‘Bitcoin-style encryption’ for XChat? Musk’s claim sparks debate

Social media platform X, under the ownership of Elon Musk, is introducing a new messaging feature dubbed ‘XChat’, which Musk claims will incorporate “Bitcoin-style encryption.”

This development, alongside a forthcoming payments feature called X Money, signals X’s continued ambition to evolve into an “everything app,” though Musk’s specific technical claims about encryption have drawn swift reactions and clarifications from the Bitcoin community.

XChat is being positioned as a significantly more feature-rich iteration of the platform’s existing direct messaging function.

According to a June 1 X post by Musk, the new service will boast audio and video calling capabilities, “encryption, vanishing messages, and the ability to send any kind of file.”