**Elon Musk Announces X Chat: A Standalone Encrypted Messaging App to Rival WhatsApp and Telegram**
Elon Musk has announced the upcoming launch of **X Chat**, a standalone encrypted messaging app designed to compete directly with popular platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram. Set to debut within a few months — following thorough internal testing — X Chat aims to offer enhanced security through a peer-to-peer encryption system inspired by Bitcoin’s decentralized model.
### Development and Launch Timeline
Musk revealed details about X Chat during his appearance on *The Joe Rogan Experience* podcast. According to him, the entire messaging infrastructure within the social media company has been rebuilt to support this new encryption system.
Currently, X Chat is undergoing rigorous internal testing, with initial results showing strong encryption performance. Although Musk did not specify an exact release date, he indicated that the rollout will happen soon after testing is complete.
X Chat will be available in two formats: as a standalone application and integrated directly within the existing X platform. This dual availability ensures accessibility for both current X users and new audiences who prefer a dedicated messaging app.
### Security Features and Encryption Design
At the core of X Chat’s security is its **peer-to-peer encryption technology** modeled after cryptocurrency systems. Musk describes the approach as decentralized — meaning no single authority controls the messages — enhancing user privacy and data protection.
Musk criticized WhatsApp’s advertising infrastructure as a potential security risk, highlighting how ad-targeting requires extensive access to user conversation data. “If [a service] knows enough about what you’re texting to know what ads to show you, that’s a lot of information,” Musk explained. He warned that such access points could be vulnerable to hackers attempting to intercept messages.
In contrast, X Chat aims to eliminate ad-based data collection, positioning itself as “the least insecure messaging system available.”
While Meta asserts that WhatsApp employs end-to-end encryption through the Signal Protocol, some metadata remains unencrypted, and chat backups currently lack default encryption protection — vulnerabilities Musk seeks to address.
### Platform Features and Integration
X Chat is currently available in beta form to **X Premium subscribers** within the app. Users can send text messages, photos, GIFs, and files, connecting via X usernames instead of traditional phone numbers. Audio and video calling features are planned for future updates.
The standalone version of X Chat will offer identical functionality, providing users with a seamless messaging experience whether they access it via the X platform or as a separate download. Both versions are intended to fully replace Twitter’s old direct messaging system.
### Part of a Bigger Vision: The Everything App
Musk envisions X Chat as a critical component of his broader plan to transform X into an “everything app.” The platform already integrates payments, creator subscriptions, and live audio features, with messaging now positioned as central to its privacy and monetization strategy.
Since acquiring Twitter in 2022, Musk has steadily expanded the platform’s capabilities. The launch of X Chat marks the latest milestone in this evolution, focusing heavily on secure communication without compromising user privacy.
### Challenges Ahead
The success of X Chat will depend on widespread adoption beyond the existing X user base. Delivering reliable peer-to-peer communication at scale presents technical challenges, especially given the entrenched presence of established messaging services that support millions of secure users worldwide.
As the company continues testing and prepares for launch, all eyes will be on how effectively X Chat can compete in the crowded and security-conscious messaging app market.
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Stay tuned for more updates on X Chat as Elon Musk and his team work towards delivering a new era of secure, decentralized messaging.
https://coincentral.com/elon-musk-announces-x-chat-as-encrypted-whatsapp-alternative/
