Elon Musk Announces XChat, a New DM System with Encryption, File Sharing, Calling, Vanishing Messages, More

Elon Musk's social media platform, X, is introducing a new feature called XChat. This feature includes Bitcoin-style encryption, disappearing messages, and the ability to send various file types. Currently, it is available only to beta testers. Musk announced this development on Sunday through several posts on the platform.

Reports from TechCrunch indicate that a small group of early users is testing the current version of XChat. However, there is no official announcement regarding when it will be available to the general public or if all features will be accessible to free users. Many users have shared screenshots of their early access experiences.

XChat's Unique Features

Musk highlighted that XChat employs "Bitcoin-style encryption" and is constructed on a completely new architecture using the Rust programming language. Users can make audio and video calls without linking a phone number, and these features are accessible across all platforms. This marks a significant upgrade from X's existing direct messaging system.

Encrypted messaging was initially introduced on X in May 2023 but was limited to subscribers. Before Musk's acquisition in 2022, direct messages were open to all users. Over time, more features have been restricted behind a paywall, including two-factor authentication via SMS.

Development and Testing

Nimo Owji, an app researcher and reverse engineer, has been monitoring the development of XChat. As early as April 18, Owji shared a screenshot revealing a "vanishing mode" within XChat with timers ranging from five minutes to one day for message disappearance.

The introduction of XChat aligns with Musk's broader vision for transforming X into an "everything app." Inspired by China's WeChat, Musk envisions X as a comprehensive solution for messaging, payments, dating, and more. Last year, he mentioned plans to evolve X into a digital bank and dating platform during a company-wide meeting.

Recent Platform Challenges

On May 31, X faced a significant outage in the US affecting tens of thousands of users who couldn't access the app. Downdetector recorded over 34,000 user complaints primarily related to the mobile app. Some users encountered welcome messages as if they were signing in for the first time.

This outage followed similar issues reported by Indian users just days earlier. Despite these challenges, the rollout of secure messaging options like XChat seems integral to Musk's strategy for expanding the platform's capabilities.