Elon Musk Announces New Encrypted Messaging on X
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, revealed a major update to X’s messaging system. The new platform, called “X Chat,” uses peer-to-peer (P2P) encryption. Musk said the system is “similar to Bitcoin.”
Musk made the announcement during his appearance on The Joe Rogan podcast. He aims to make X Chat “the least insecure of any messaging system.”
Key Features of X Chat
X Chat runs on a “peer-to-peer-based encryption system,” Musk explained. It removes advertising hooks that collect user data. Musk said rival apps create “massive security vulnerabilities” by gathering metadata.
The new messaging system is built with Rust programming language. It supports fully encrypted text, file sharing, and audio/video calls. Users can access it without providing a phone number. The platform also includes vanishing messages.
X Chat will be available in two forms:
- Integrated within the main X platform
- Standalone X Chat app to launch in a few months
Security Experts Question Musk’s Claims
Some security experts remain skeptical about Musk’s “Bitcoin-style encryption” claim. They call for independent audits and transparency to verify X Chat’s security. Experts compare it to established apps like Signal and WhatsApp.
Ian Miers, a computer science professor at the University of Maryland, criticized Musk’s comparison on X. He said, “This is like saying, we decided to run our rocket on water, since NASA uses Hydrogen and Oxygen.”
Musk first announced X Chat in June 2025. The design draws inspiration from bitcoin developer Satoshi Nakamoto. Before the rollout, X temporarily disabled its previous encrypted messaging feature.
