Why Nepalis Turned to Jack Dorsey’s Bitchat During Protests
Last week, tens of thousands of young people in Nepal started using a new messaging app called Bitchat. This happened after the government blocked many popular social media sites during anti-corruption protests.
Social Media Ban Sparks Protests
The protests began on September 4 in Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital. The government blocked 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and YouTube. Officials said they wanted to stop anti-government posts. But the ban made things worse.
Instead of calming the situation, the ban pushed more young people to protest. They were angry about corruption, nepotism, and few job opportunities. The protests grew quickly and became violent.
Some government buildings, like Nepal’s parliament and supreme court, were set on fire. On September 9, Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli resigned because of the public pressure.
Violence and Government Response
Security forces tried to control the protests with force. Police used live bullets and tear gas. At least 19 people died, and some reports say the number could be as high as 34. Hundreds more were hurt during the clashes.
Bitchat Becomes a Key Tool for Protesters
During the social media blackout, many Nepalis downloaded Bitchat. The app was created by Jack Dorsey, the founder of Twitter and Block, along with developer Calle. Bitchat works without an internet connection. It uses Bluetooth mesh technology to send messages between nearby phones.
When internet is available, Bitchat also uses the Nostr protocol to send messages. Both methods keep messages encrypted and private.
Before the protests, Nepal had fewer than 3,500 Bitchat downloads. By September 8, this number jumped to nearly 49,000. Calle said on X (formerly Twitter), “Today we’re seeing an even bigger spike from Nepal during youth protests over government corruption and a social media ban.”
How Bitchat Works
- Bitchat has no central servers or accounts.
- Users do not need phone numbers or emails to use it.
- Messages are encrypted and sent through nearby devices, usually within 300 meters.
- The app has a “Panic Mode” that wipes all data with a triple tap, helping users stay safe.
These features make it hard for governments to block or monitor the app. For many young Nepalis, Bitchat was the only way to talk and organize during the social media ban.
Bitchat’s Growth Beyond Nepal
Nepal is not the only country where Bitchat has grown fast. Just a week before, protests in Indonesia over lawmakers’ pay raises led to thousands of new downloads. About 11,000 Indonesians installed Bitchat to avoid censorship and surveillance.
Experts say this shows a bigger trend. As governments try to control online communication, people are turning to “freedom tech.” These are apps like Bitchat, Signal, Session, and Status that protect privacy and resist censorship.
Future Plans for Bitchat
For Jack Dorsey and Calle, the protests in Nepal and Indonesia showed Bitchat’s power. But they also revealed what the app still needs. Calle said the team is working to add Bitcoin-based payments using Ecash. This will let users send money privately, making Bitchat more than just a messaging app.
Bitchat was launched in July as an experiment. Now, it is becoming a real tool for people fighting for their rights and privacy around the world.
