In Elon Musk’s mind, the word “pause” does not exist. Between two tweets, he redraws the future. Colonizing Mars, reshaping finance, robotizing daily life… The man never stops. Not even to sleep. Today, he wants to make X a total super-app. And in this titanic endeavor, he unveils X Chat: an encrypted messaging service designed as a direct replica of the WhatsApp model. With, as a bonus, an architecture inspired by Bitcoin.
In brief
- •X Chat offers decentralized encryption inspired by Bitcoin, without data collection or targeted advertising.
- •Musk criticizes WhatsApp for its “hooks” allowing message analysis for hidden commercial uses.
- •The project aims to surpass Telegram, Signal and others by eliminating all forms of algorithmic interference.
- •The messaging integrates with X, a future super-app mixing AI, cryptos, video calls and financial services.
Meta in the Crosshairs: Elon Musk's Vision for Messaging Aims to Break Chains
X Chat represents a significant digital milestone. Musk intends to replace the current direct messaging system with a fully encrypted service. His ambition is to build a decentralized technology, based on peer-to-peer encryption “similar to that of Bitcoin.”
This approach means no central server, no access for the publisher, and no advertising exploitation. This stands in direct contrast to WhatsApp, which Musk criticizes for its marketing “hooks”—bridges that allow users to be targeted based on the content of their messages. According to Musk, this constitutes a significant security vulnerability.
X Chat is thus designed for individuals who wish to communicate without being monitored. It aims to be a space free from ad algorithms or hidden profiling. This initiative is less a new feature and more a technical manifesto: it champions a network where confidentiality is not merely a promise but an unalterable foundation.
Telegram, Signal, Bitcoin: Elon Musk Enters the Sovereign Messaging Arena
The secure messaging landscape is already highly competitive, with established players like Telegram, Signal, and WhatsApp each making their own promises. However, Elon Musk is not looking to negotiate for a position; he aims to redefine the rules of engagement. With X Chat, he draws inspiration from Bitcoin's core principles: public code, individual control, and the absence of trusted third parties.
This initiative extends beyond a mere messaging application; it embodies a broader crypto vision. While WhatsApp claims to encrypt messages, it still collects metadata. Companies can then entrust Meta with message analysis through AI. Encryption ceases as soon as a user interacts with a brand. Musk's objective is for all communications to remain encrypted at all times.
He also aims to demonstrate that communication is possible without relying on large data silos. His vision is that encryption is not just a technical tool but a fundamental idea: the principle of returning control to users. Bitcoin achieved this for financial transactions; X Chat aspires to achieve it for communication.
Towards a Super-App Without Advertising or Compromised Privacy
X Chat is not a minor addition; it is a pivotal component of Elon Musk's overarching vision for X. This vision encompasses the integration of messaging, payments, AI, and various services into a single, unified interface. Crucially, in this ecosystem, data will no longer serve as the currency of exchange.
Musk has repeatedly stated that advertisements inherently harm the integrity of a system. Consequently, he is advocating for a radical alternative: a platform where security cannot be bypassed, and where no AI scrutinizes exchanges to enhance bots or refine marketing campaigns.
For some, this proposition may sound utopian. For others, it represents a return to core internet values such as anonymity, freedom, and digital sovereignty. X Chat has the potential to become the primary tool for this digital reconquest.
5 Facts to Understand the Ambitions Behind X Chat
- •Approximately 2 billion users exchange messages daily on WhatsApp, often unaware of how their metadata is handled.
- •Bitcoin operates on an architecture without a central governing body, a logic Musk intends for X Chat to adopt.
- •WhatsApp shares certain professional data with Meta, including information used by AI for automatic responses.
- •X Chat explicitly rejects any advertising model, refusing to engage in the resale or exploitation of messages.
- •Musk has declared X Chat to be the “least insecure” system among currently available messaging services.
Musk's inspiration extends beyond Bitcoin's encryption; he embraces its underlying philosophy: that of a monetary system that limits arbitrary value issuance, representing a departure from traditional money printing mechanisms. While X Chat may appear as a modest messaging service, it could evolve into the foundational element of a post-advertising internet.