Musk unveils X Chat, a messenger with encryption ‘similar to Bitcoin’

Elon Musk revealed plans to launch "X Chat," a standalone messaging application designed to compete with services like Telegram and WhatsApp, expected within a few months. Musk stated that X Chat utilizes a peer-to-peer-based encryption system "kind of similar to Bitcoin" and will be thoroughly tested, aiming to be the "least insecure of any messaging system." A key differentiator is the absence of advertising "hooks," which Musk criticized in competitors like WhatsApp, arguing that data needed for targeted ads represents a massive security vulnerability. While WhatsApp uses Signal Protocol for end-to-end encryption, it collects metadata and does not automatically encrypt backups. X Chat will integrate text, file sharing, and audio/video calls, available both within the X platform and as a standalone app, with Musk emphasizing its commitment to privacy over data collection for advertising.

(Source：Cointelegraph)