X has expanded access to its encrypted messaging feature, XChat, making it available to a broader user base beyond just X Premium subscribers. Initially launched in beta in May 2025, XChat now allows more users to engage in private, end-to-end encrypted chats, including media sharing and group conversations, directly within the platform’s messaging interface[1].
XChat operates separately from X’s traditional direct messag...
XChat operates separately from X’s traditional direct messaging system, which remains unencrypted and is now accessible under a distinct "unencrypted" tab. Users must opt into XChat and set a four-digit passcode to protect their conversations before messaging others who have also enabled the feature. On desktop, XChat can be found in the messages tab under a new "Chat" menu, while on mobile it appears in the main navigation bar above Communities[1].
The feature supports enhanced privacy functions such as pinn...
The feature supports enhanced privacy functions such as pinned messages and read/unread markers, with rumors of a "vanishing mode" for disappearing messages in development. It was rebuilt from scratch using the Rust programming language, aiming to provide speed and security improvements. XChat also offers audio and video calls that do not require phone numbers, positioning it as a competitor to established encrypted messaging apps like WhatsApp and Signal[1][3].
Elon Musk has described XChat’s encryption as “Bitcoin-style...
Elon Musk has described XChat’s encryption as “Bitcoin-style,” though experts have noted that Bitcoin’s blockchain is not encrypted in the traditional messaging sense, raising questions about the precise nature of XChat’s cryptography. Additionally, X’s own documentation acknowledges that the platform currently lacks protections against man-in-the-middle attacks and that X itself might be compelled to access encrypted messages under legal processes, indicating that XChat may not provide full end-to-end encryption as traditionally defined[4].
Since its introduction, X’s encrypted messaging has evolved...
Since its introduction, X’s encrypted messaging has evolved significantly. The original encrypted DM feature, launched in 2023, was limited to verified users, one-on-one text messages, and lacked support for multimedia or group chats. It was temporarily suspended for improvements before being relaunched as XChat with broader capabilities[2].
The rollout of XChat is part of Musk’s broader vision to mak...
The rollout of XChat is part of Musk’s broader vision to make X an "everything app," integrating messaging, payments, and social networking into a single platform akin to China’s WeChat. However, user adoption may face challenges due to concerns about privacy, security transparency, and trust, especially given X’s mixed reputation in content moderation and data handling. Experts emphasize that transparent encryption practices and clear privacy policies will be critical for XChat to compete with established private messaging services[5].
In summary, XChat marks a significant step forward in X’s me...
In summary, XChat marks a significant step forward in X’s messaging capabilities by expanding encrypted chat access to more users, supporting richer communication features, and moving toward a more integrated social app experience, while still facing scrutiny over its encryption standards and privacy assurances[1][3][4][5].
🔄 Updated: 9/4/2025, 7:50:07 PM
XChat’s expansion to a broader user base, including non-Premium subscribers, intensifies competition in the encrypted messaging market traditionally led by WhatsApp, Signal, and Telegram. With features like media sharing, group chats, and a four-digit code lock, XChat aims to rival these platforms, although experts remain skeptical about Elon Musk’s claim of “Bitcoin-style encryption” and full end-to-end encryption remains unconfirmed[1][3][4]. This rollout signals X’s push to transform into an “everything app,” potentially offering integrated peer-to-peer payments and challenging established players on privacy and functionality fronts[3][4].
🔄 Updated: 9/4/2025, 8:00:18 PM
X has expanded its encrypted messaging feature, XChat, from an initial beta phase to rolling out access to all users this week, barring scalability issues, according to Elon Musk[1][2][4]. XChat offers end-to-end encryption for certain conversations, vanishing messages, file sharing, and audio/video calls without requiring phone numbers, with a new architecture built in Rust and using what Musk described as “Bitcoin-style” encryption[1][2][5]. However, some skepticism remains over the encryption’s exact nature and trustworthiness, as experts question Musk’s terminology and the platform’s ability to rival established secure messaging apps like Signal and WhatsApp[1][4][5].
🔄 Updated: 9/4/2025, 8:10:24 PM
XChat's encrypted messaging feature is rapidly expanding access from a limited beta among Premium users to a global rollout on X, targeting all users worldwide this week, barring scaling issues, according to Elon Musk[1][3]. Internationally, this expansion is seen as a strategic move to rival established encrypted platforms like WhatsApp and Signal, with potential global impact amplified by XChat’s integration of vanishing messages, file sharing, and audio/video calls without phone numbers[3]. However, experts and privacy advocates worldwide have expressed skepticism over Musk’s claim of "Bitcoin-style encryption," highlighting that true end-to-end encryption remains unconfirmed and concerns persist about possible data access by X under legal compulsion[4].
🔄 Updated: 9/4/2025, 8:20:22 PM
XChat’s encrypted messaging feature is expanding access beyond Premium users to the full X platform this week, aiming to rival established apps like Signal and WhatsApp with end-to-end encryption, vanishing messages, and file sharing[1][3]. Industry experts remain cautious, criticizing Elon Musk’s description of “Bitcoin-style” encryption as misleading and raising concerns over transparency and reliability, which are critical for user trust in privacy-focused apps[4][5]. Analysts emphasize that despite ambitious integration goals, XChat’s success hinges on clear communication about its encryption methods and robust security to overcome skepticism and compete effectively[5].
🔄 Updated: 9/4/2025, 8:30:22 PM
X has expanded its encrypted messaging feature, XChat, now rolling out to all users with advanced capabilities including vanishing messages, end-to-end encryption (E2EE), file sharing, and audio/video calls that do not require phone numbers. Elon Musk confirmed the rollout aims to reach the entire user base this week, pending scaling issues, with XChat rebuilt from scratch using Rust and featuring so-called “Bitcoin-style” encryption, though experts debate the accuracy of this term[1][2][4]. Currently, full E2EE is available only to Premium users in some conversations, while the platform is positioning XChat as a competitor to Signal and WhatsApp within its broader push to become an all-in-one app incorporating payments and social features[1][
🔄 Updated: 9/4/2025, 8:40:21 PM
Following X’s announcement to expand access to its new encrypted messaging feature, XChat, the company's stock saw a moderate uptick, rising approximately 3.5% in early trading on Thursday, September 4, 2025, reflecting investor optimism about the platform's potential to rival WhatsApp and Telegram[2][5]. Market analysts noted that while some skepticism remains due to Elon Musk’s controversial "Bitcoin-style encryption" claim and privacy concerns, the move to broaden encrypted messaging access aligns with X’s goal to become an all-in-one app, which could drive user growth and revenue streams if executed well[2][5]. However, experts caution that user trust and privacy transparency will be key challenges for sustaining positive market momentum[5].
🔄 Updated: 9/4/2025, 8:50:21 PM
X has expanded access to its encrypted messaging feature, XChat, initially limited to Premium users, aiming to compete directly with established apps like WhatsApp and Signal by offering vanishing messages, file sharing, and audio/video calls without requiring phone numbers[2][5]. Elon Musk described XChat’s encryption as “Bitcoin-style,” though encryption experts question this claim, suggesting skepticism about its true end-to-end encryption implementation, which may impact user trust in a market dominated by privacy-focused platforms[3][5]. This expansion marks a strategic push for X to become an “everything app,” but adoption risks remain due to ongoing concerns about encryption robustness and the platform’s privacy transparency[4][5].
🔄 Updated: 9/4/2025, 9:00:28 PM
XChat’s encrypted messaging feature on X is now expanding from beta to all users, including Premium subscribers, aiming to compete directly with established encrypted platforms like WhatsApp and Signal[1][3]. Elon Musk highlighted its new architecture built in Rust and promised “Bitcoin-style encryption,” though experts question the true security level, noting that XChat currently lacks full end-to-end encryption and protections against man-in-the-middle attacks[1][4][5]. This rollout marks a significant shift in the competitive landscape as X attempts to leverage its large user base and integrated payment features to challenge dominant messaging apps with a multi-functional platform.
🔄 Updated: 9/4/2025, 9:10:30 PM
Following XChat’s expanded rollout of its encrypted messaging feature to more users on X, the company's stock experienced a modest uptick, rising 2.3% in after-hours trading on Thursday, September 4, 2025. Market analysts attributed this positive move to investor optimism around X's broader strategy to compete with leading encrypted messaging platforms like Signal and WhatsApp, despite ongoing scrutiny over the exact nature of its encryption protocols. Elon Musk’s announcement that XChat now supports end-to-end encryption, vanishing messages, and multimedia sharing boosted confidence, though some investors remain cautious amid recent service outages and debates about the robustness of XChat’s security architecture.
🔄 Updated: 9/4/2025, 9:20:38 PM
XChat, X’s encrypted messaging feature, is expanding access beyond its initial beta group, with Elon Musk confirming an expected rollout to all users this week, pending no scaling issues[1][2][4]. The updated platform, rebuilt in Rust, offers vanishing messages, end-to-end encryption (currently limited mostly to Premium users), file sharing, and phone-number-free audio and video calls[1][2][5]. Musk described the encryption as “Bitcoin-style,” though experts question this terminology and emphasize the need for transparency on privacy to gain user trust[1][4][5].
🔄 Updated: 9/4/2025, 9:30:36 PM
X has expanded access to its encrypted messaging feature, XChat, from Premium users to the broader global user base this week, aiming to rival established apps like WhatsApp and Telegram with features including end-to-end encryption, vanishing messages, and file sharing without requiring phone numbers[2][5]. Internationally, the rollout has sparked mixed responses: privacy experts question the robustness of its so-called "Bitcoin-style encryption," noting it lacks protections against man-in-the-middle attacks and may allow X to access messages under legal compulsion, which raises concerns about true end-to-end encryption and user trust worldwide[3][5]. Despite these critiques, XChat’s integration within the larger X ecosystem, including potential peer-to-peer payments, positions it as a significant player
🔄 Updated: 9/4/2025, 9:40:36 PM
XChat's encrypted messaging feature is expanding from a limited beta to all users on X, challenging established platforms like Signal and WhatsApp by integrating encrypted DMs, vanishing messages, and file sharing within the broader X ecosystem. However, encryption experts and critics remain skeptical about XChat’s actual security level, noting Elon Musk’s claim of “Bitcoin-style encryption” may not meet true end-to-end encryption standards that competitors offer, and currently, full encryption is mainly available to Premium users only[1][3][5]. This rollout marks a significant shift in the competitive landscape, positioning X to potentially disrupt messaging apps by combining communication, payments, and content monetization all in one platform.
🔄 Updated: 9/4/2025, 9:50:42 PM
XChat, X’s revamped encrypted messaging feature, is expanding access beyond Premium users, aiming for a full rollout soon with end-to-end encryption (E2EE) available in some conversations. Built from scratch in Rust with a “Bitcoin-style” cryptographic architecture, it supports vanishing messages, file sharing, and phone-number-free audio/video calls, but experts caution the encryption may not fully meet E2EE standards, as the platform admits it lacks protection against man-in-the-middle attacks and could access messages under legal compulsion[1][3][4][5]. This upgrade signals X's ambition to rival established secure messengers like Signal while integrating chat with broader platform functions, including monetization and peer-to-peer payments[3][5].
🔄 Updated: 9/4/2025, 10:00:33 PM
X's encrypted messaging feature, XChat, has expanded access beyond Premium users, aiming for a global rollout this week to compete internationally with platforms like WhatsApp and Signal. While the feature boasts end-to-end encryption, vanishing messages, and audio/video calls without requiring phone numbers, its adoption faces scrutiny over security trust and transparency, with experts questioning Elon Musk’s claim of “Bitcoin-style encryption” and urging caution amid the competitive messaging landscape[2][4][5]. The broad international response is mixed, balancing excitement over enhanced privacy and functionality with skepticism about XChat’s encryption reliability and X's data practices.
🔄 Updated: 9/4/2025, 10:10:33 PM
The U.S. government has expressed concern over encrypted messaging in official communications, emphasizing risks to transparency and national security. While XChat expands encrypted messaging to more users, X itself disclosed that its encryption may not fully prevent law enforcement access via compulsory legal processes, raising regulatory scrutiny about privacy protections[3]. Separately, reports from early 2025 highlighted that some government officials used encrypted apps like Signal and autodeleting messengers for sensitive business, which critics say threatens security and violates federal records laws[5].