TL;DR

• Elon Musk announced a forthcoming messaging app named "X Chat" during his appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, saying it uses a "peer-to-peer-based encryption system, kind of similar to Bitcoin."
• Musk expects X Chat to launch within "a few months" and promised the app "won't sell or share users' data with advertisers."
• The new app is being designed to rival major messaging platforms such as Telegram and WhatsApp, offering text, file transfers, audio and video calls, with no built-in advertising hooks.
• Musk claims current messaging apps with ad-based models create "massive security vulnerability" because they gather data to target ads. X Chat is positioned as a privacy-first alternative.

Elon Musk, long known for his ventures in electric vehicles, space travel and social media, is now setting his sights on the messaging arena. On the Joe Rogan podcast , Musk revealed that the social platform formerly known as X (formerly Twitter) has "just rebuilt the entire messaging stack into what's called 'X Chat.'"

He went on to explain: 

This is a bold claim - comparing X Chat's encryption architecture to that of Bitcoin suggests Musk envisions a system built on decentralised, resilient protocols rather than legacy centralised messaging infrastructure.

He also stressed timing and intention:

What X Chat Offers and How It Differs

From what Musk shared, X Chat aims to provide:

Full messaging features: sending texts, files, images, video and voice calls. A standalone app version, while also being integrated into the existing X platform.
Advertising-free experience: no tracking for ad targeting, no data-hooks. Musk described ad-based systems as "massive security vulnerabilities" because they gather enough information to serve tailored ads and open doors for malicious actors.
P2P encryption design: Musk repeatedly emphasised "peer-to-peer" architecture, which suggests minimal reliance on central servers for message routing or storage - though he did not provide details about the underlying tech (e.g., blockchain, DHT, or mesh networks).

By contrast, current popular apps like WhatsApp (owned by Meta) or Telegram operate on centralised infrastructure; they may use end-to-end encryption for message contents but still collect metadata or integrate user data for ad or business services. Musk positions X Chat as the "least insecure" of any messaging system.

Why It Matters - Privacy, Messaging and "Everything App" Ambitions

Messaging is one of the most widely used digital services globally, and its intersection with privacy has become increasingly important. With mounting concerns about data harvesting, metadata surveillance and commercialisation of communications, a privacy-first messaging service could resonate with users seeking alternatives.

Musk's move also ties into his larger ambition to turn X into a true "everything app" - one that combines messaging, payments, content creation, social networking and more. The launch of X Chat could be an essential block in that foundation.

In the broader context of tech and crypto, the claim of "Bitcoin-style encryption" is particularly noteworthy. It points to a convergence of messaging with decentralised, peer-to-peer models and perhaps even tokenised or crypto-native integrations in the future.

Challenges and Key Questions Ahead

While the announcement is bold, several questions remain:

• Technical specifics: Musk has not yet explained how "peer-to-peer" and "Bitcoin-style" encryption will work. Will X Chat leverage distributed ledger technology? Will it allow self-custody of messages?
• Adoption and ecosystem: Launching a next-generation messenger is one thing; migrating millions of users is another. Will X Chat gain traction away from incumbents?
• Operational integrity: Even without ads, messaging platforms face challenges in moderation, spam, compliance, and security vulnerabilities. Can X Chat build credibility in those fronts?
• Business model: Musk says there will be no ads, but how will the app generate revenue (subscription, premium features, tokens)? How will he ensure monetisation doesn't compromise his privacy promise?
• Regulatory and geo-political risk: A messaging system built with "Bitcoin-style encryption" and no ad data could attract scrutiny from regulators, especially around content liability, terror financing, or data jurisdiction.

Final Thought

Elon Musk's unveiling of X Chat signals a bold step in messaging and tech privacy. By promising peer-to-peer encryption "kind of similar to Bitcoin," and rejecting advertising hooks, Musk is positioning X Chat as a next-generation alternative for users seeking privacy, simplicity and power. Whether it lives up to the promise remains to be seen - but at a time when data privacy concerns are front-of-mind for many, a new contender in the messaging space could change how we communicate.