The company has been developing this feature for several years,aiming to transform its platform into a “SUPERAPP” akin to WeChat in China,offering a comprehensive digital ecosystem encompassing social networking,payments,calls,content,and now,encrypted messaging,according to a report in The Verge.

A key differentiator for XChat is its independence from phone numbers, enhancing user privacy. This contrasts with many other messaging apps that require phone number verification.

According to Elon Musk, XChat is intended to replace conventional direct messages on the platform, enabling users to exchange text messages, voice notes, files, and emoji reactions, as well as conduct voice and video calls, all within a single submission.

XChat is built using the Rust programming language, known for its safety and efficiency. It employs a public key cryptography-based encryption model, similar to that used by Bitcoin, to ensure message content remains private, even from X itself.

while the basic version of Xchat is available to all mobile users, advanced features such as ephemeral messages, group calls, and additional privacy settings are currently exclusive to users with a paid subscription on the platform.

Accessing Xchat within the App

Users can access Xchat through the messages section of the X app. From there, they can initiate conversations, record voice notes, react with emojis, and start calls using the provided icons.microphone and camera permissions are required for voice and video functionalities.

“xchat… uses an encryption model based on public key cryptography, very similar to that used by Bitcoin.”

WhatsApp currently dominates the market with over 2 billion users globally.However, market saturation and privacy concerns have created opportunities for new messaging platforms. The question remains: Can Elon Musk and XChat successfully attract users to adopt this new tool?

Understanding Encrypted Messaging