Is XChat Really Secure? Elon Musk’s Messaging App Rolls Out Amid Encryption Debate
Wondering if XChat is secure, or whether XChat uses real encryption like Signal or iMessage? As X rolls out its highly anticipated messaging upgrade—complete with vanishing messages, encrypted chats, file sharing, and cross-platform calling—tech experts and users alike are asking: How secure is XChat, really?
On June 2, 2025, Elon Musk announced XChat, a major update to the X (formerly Twitter) Direct Messaging system. Designed as a privacy-focused communication platform, XChat aims to rival leading encrypted messaging apps by offering features such as end-to-end encryption, file transfers, and audio/video calling—all without requiring a phone number. But with high-security messaging apps like Signal, WhatsApp, and iMessage setting the bar, skepticism around XChat’s actual level of privacy is growing.
XChat Features: Encrypted Messaging, Vanishing Messages, and More
According to Musk, XChat includes:
End-to-end encrypted messages
Self-destructing (vanishing) messages
Audio and video calls without phone numbers
File sharing across platforms
A newly developed backend architecture built using Rust
These features are currently being beta tested, with a full rollout expected soon—assuming no scaling issues arise. While this sounds impressive on the surface, cybersecurity professionals have raised red flags over Musk’s description of XChat’s security.
What Does "Bitcoin-Style Encryption" Even Mean?
In a series of posts on X, Musk described XChat as using “Bitcoin-style encryption.” But this terminology has confused security experts. Bitcoin itself isn’t encrypted—it uses public key cryptography and digital signatures, not actual data encryption. So when Musk references “Bitcoin-style encryption,” it leaves users unsure whether this is a genuine secure communication protocol or just tech marketing jargon.
Some believe Musk may have meant to say “cryptography” rather than encryption, while others see it as a misunderstanding of blockchain security principles. As one user noted in a Grok-powered fact-check: “Bitcoin isn’t encrypted.”
Can XChat Compete with Signal or iMessage?
Musk has made clear his ambition for XChat to rival secure platforms like Signal and iMessage, which are renowned for their strong end-to-end encryption. But the lack of technical transparency around XChat’s encryption protocols, combined with ongoing outages on the X platform, casts doubt on its viability as a serious competitor in the private messaging app space.
Moreover, X recently paused development on its older encrypted DM system, suggesting it’s betting heavily on XChat. But with recent service instability affecting features like timelines and messaging, users may hesitate to adopt it as a secure alternative—especially in industries like finance, healthcare, or legal, where compliance-grade secure messaging is essential.
Promising but Unproven
XChat shows potential as a unified encrypted messaging and calling app, with convenient features that don’t rely on phone numbers. However, without third-party audits or open-source transparency, claims of “Bitcoin-style encryption” remain vague—and potentially misleading.
For now, privacy-conscious users may want to stick with more established secure communication tools while XChat proves its security credentials.
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