Latest news with #Bitcoin-style
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Elon Musk introduces XChat with similar features to WhatsApp- Details
Elon Musk has introduced a new chat interface for the X app ( formerly Twitter), which will now be called XChat. The XChat is the in-app direct messaging feature, which will enable users to communicate with friends and followers seamlessly, similar to how we do on WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram DMs, and others. On Sunday, Musk shared an X post revealing the XChat with advanced features such as Bitcoin-style encryption, disappearing messages, and cross-platform audio/video calls. This new DM feature could compete with several instant messaging platforms, and could also transform the way we use messaging on the platform. Also read: Airtel introduced new OTT entertainment packs in India for prepaid users- Details XChat is the new direct messaging DM feature of the X app with additional features. While, DM feature was already available on the platform, but Musk has planned to revamp the feature with a new version called XChat. This new DM version is currently available to a limited users for best testing and is said to roll out to everyone this week. In the X post, Musk said that XChat includes a 'whole new architecture' with 'Bitcoin-style encryption' to keep chats private. However, the encryption term is raising security concerns among users since Bitcoin is not described to be encrypted. Also read: WhatsApp Web to bring voice and video call features soon for users - All details As mentioned above, XChat includes WhatsApp-like features such as vanishing messages, file sharing, video and audio calling, encrypted messaging, and more. Therefore, X's DM feature is getting a significant makeover with additional features and enhanced security. This new move showcases Musk's vision to transform the X from a microblogging platform to a more versatile day-to-day usage. Well, it's currently on beta testing, and it will soon be rolled out to X's paid subscribers. However, to use advanced XChat features, users may have to get the subscription version of the app to communicate with friends and family. As of now, it is unclear if XChat will be rolled out to free-tier users with limited features. Therefore, we may have to wait for official announcements to know how Elon Musk plans to transform the X app for everyday usage. Additionally, it will also be quite interesting to see how the new features compete with other messaging platforms that are currently running for free for the users. Mobile Finder: Apple iPhone 16 LATEST specs, features, and price
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Bitcoiners roast Elon Musk's new ‘Bitcoin-style' XChat
Bitcoiners roast Elon Musk's new 'Bitcoin-style' XChat originally appeared on TheStreet. Elon Musk wants X to become the most secure communication platform on the planet. But his latest branding choice has left the crypto world confused, and a little amused. On June 1, Musk announced XChat, a new feature for X (formerly Twitter) that includes encrypted messaging, vanishing messages, file sharing, and audio/video calling — all without needing a phone number. The architecture is reportedly built on Rust, and as Musk described it, uses 'Bitcoin-style encryption.' That phrasing triggered an instant response from Bitcoin experts. 'Brother w*f is bitcoin style encryption, bitcoin literally doesn't have any encryption in it whatsoever,' wrote Taproot Wizards contributor Udi Wertheimer, whose tweet quickly racked up over half a million views. Short answer. Not in the way you think. Despite being one of the most secure financial systems ever created, Bitcoin does not use encryption to keep data private. Instead, it relies on cryptographic hashing and digital signatures, both critical tools in cryptography, but not encryption. Hashing (like SHA-256) is used to generate unique fingerprints of data, crucial for mining and verifying transactions. Digital signatures (using ECDSA or Schnorr) ensure that only someone with the correct private key can authorize a transaction. As Wertheimer explained, encryption is when you take a message and keep it secret from everyone but the intended recipient. Bitcoin doesn't hide anything. Every transaction is open, auditable, and publicly visible on the blockchain — that's part of its entire design. 'Seriously, what is Bitcoin-style encryption?' asked cryptographer and assistant professor Ian Miers. 'Bitcoin primarily uses signatures, not encryption. This is like saying, we decided to run our rocket on water, since NASA uses hydrogen and oxygen.' Some users pointed out that Bitcoin Core implemented BIP-324, a proposal to encrypt peer-to-peer (P2P) network messages, in 2023. That means nodes talking to each other on the Bitcoin network can now encrypt their communication — but this is not the same as encrypting transactions or wallets. So while there's some encryption involved at the networking layer, it's misleading to suggest that Bitcoin's core value proposition revolves around encryption. Even Wertheimer admitted he may have jumped the gun: 'I might have to stop tweeting about bitcoin forever… turns out they do have some encryption in Bitcoin Core for the P2P protocol since 2023. Elon knows more about Bitcoin than I do. It's over, bye.' Musk was probably referring to end-to-end encryption and threw in 'Bitcoin-style' as shorthand for peer-to-peer privacy and decentralization — even if the terminology isn't accurate. As crypto OG Wei Dai speculated: ''Bitcoin-style' ~= 'peer-to-peer' ~= 'end-to-end'... So 'Bitcoin style encryption' means 'end-to-end encryption'.' Musk's XChat may very well offer a solid privacy layer for communications. But if you're calling it "Bitcoin-style encryption," be ready for pushback — because in Bitcoin, transparency is the feature, not the bug. And if you're going to cite the world's most open protocol, maybe… read the whitepaper first. TheStreet Roundtable reached out to X for clarification on what Musk meant by 'Bitcoin-style encryption.' This story will be updated if and when the company responds. Bitcoiners roast Elon Musk's new 'Bitcoin-style' XChat first appeared on TheStreet on Jun 2, 2025 This story was originally reported by TheStreet on Jun 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Elon Musk says XChat is rolling out to all, but questions remain about its alleged security
Elon Musk on Sunday announced that a new version of X's Direct Messaging (DM) feature, XChat, was rolling out with support for features like vanishing messages, encryption, and the ability to share files, alongside its audio and video calling support. The new features aren't yet broadly available, as XChat only recently started beta testing among a select group of users. However, Musk said that the X team expects to bring XChat to all users sometime this week, unless they encounter scaling issues during the rollout. In a series of X posts, Musk also noted that the updated version of XChat has been built on Rust with "Bitcoin style" encryption and a "whole new architecture." It's not clear what he means by Bitcoin-style encryption, given that Bitcoin itself cannot be described as "encrypted." (Bitcoin uses public key cryptography and signatures for its security.) As a result, some are debating whether Musk is using the terminology simply as marketing speak, if he misunderstands encryption, or if he used the wrong word -- perhaps meaning to say "cryptography" instead. The X owner has often spoken of wanting to make X's DMs a challenger to encrypted platforms like Signal and iMessage. However, calling XChat a service with only "Bitcoin-style encryption" calls into question whether it's really a potential competitor. In addition, Musk shared on X that XChat users can now make audio and video calls without a phone number across all platforms. Ahead of this launch, X said it was pausing work on encrypted DMs, presumably because XChat would soon replace the older system. Unfortunately for X users, the service has faced some significant instability over the past week or so, as multiple outages left users unable to browse timelines and use other features, including XChat. This article originally appeared on TechCrunch at Sign in to access your portfolio
India Today
3 days ago
- India Today
Elon Musk's X launches XChat: Features encryption, vanishing texts and will let you send any kind of file
Elon Musk's platform X is launching a new messaging feature called XChat, bringing end-to-end encryption, vanishing messages, and the ability to send any type of file. The feature, which is currently available only to beta testers, was announced by Musk on Sunday in a series of posts on the platform. 'All new XChat is rolling out with encryption, vanishing messages and the ability to send any kind of file,' Musk said, adding that it also includes audio and video calling. What sets XChat apart, according to him, is that it uses 'Bitcoin-style encryption' and is built on a 'whole new architecture' using the Rust programming language. advertisementMusk also confirmed that users will be able to make audio and video calls without linking a phone number, and across all platforms. The feature appears to be a major upgrade of X's existing direct messages (DMs), and comes just days after the company paused encrypted messaging. In a brief update on May 29, X said it was temporarily disabling the feature to make 'some improvements,' hinting at bigger changes ahead. It now seems that the pause was in preparation for the rollout of XChat. While X has yet to officially publish a blog post or detailed FAQ on the new feature, reverse engineer and app researcher Nimo Owji has been tracking its development. As early as April 18, Owji shared a screenshot showing a 'vanishing mode' within XChat, offering timers ranging from five minutes to one day before messages from TechCrunch confirm that the current version of XChat is being tested by a small group of early users. There is no official word yet on when it will roll out to the wider public, or whether all features will be made available to free users. Many users on X have also been sharing screenshots of the early access to the app. Encrypted messaging was first introduced on X in May 2023, but it was limited to subscribers. That marked a significant change in how messaging worked on the platform. Before Musk took over in 2022, DMs were open to all users. But over the past couple of years, X has steadily moved more features behind a paywall. Even two-factor authentication via SMS is now limited to paid XChat may seem like a straightforward feature update, it is part of Musk's broader ambition to turn X into an 'everything app.' Drawing inspiration from China's WeChat, Musk has previously said he wants X to become a one-stop solution for messaging, payments, dating, and more. In a company-wide meeting last year, he mentioned plans to soon turn X into a digital bank and dating platform. The addition of secure, versatile messaging options like XChat appears to be a key part of that separate news, on May 31, X experienced a major outage in the US, leaving tens of thousands unable to access the app. Downdetector reported over 34,000 user complaints, most related to the mobile app. Some users were greeted with a welcome message as if they were signing in for the first time. Just days earlier, Indian users had reported similar issues with the In
Hans India
3 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
Elon Musk's X Rolls Out XChat with Encrypted Messaging, Vanishing Texts, and File Sharing
Elon Musk is once again steering his social media platform X in a bold new direction with the launch of XChat, a revamped messaging service promising Bitcoin-style encryption, disappearing messages, and the ability to send virtually any kind of file. The feature, still in its beta testing phase, was announced by Musk himself in a series of posts over the weekend. 'All new XChat is rolling out with encryption, vanishing messages and the ability to send any kind of file,' Musk shared on X. The new tool also includes audio and video calling, marking a major upgrade to X's existing direct messaging system. Notably, Musk emphasized that XChat will allow users to communicate without linking a phone number, supporting cross-platform functionality—another step toward increased privacy and flexibility. According to Musk, XChat has been developed using the Rust programming language and is built on a completely new architecture, a departure from previous systems. Its "Bitcoin-style encryption" suggests a blockchain-inspired, secure approach to data protection, although full technical details have not yet been disclosed. The announcement comes shortly after X temporarily disabled encrypted DMs, citing internal improvements. On May 29, the company noted the pause was to implement updates. It now appears this short break was laying the groundwork for the XChat rollout. While the company hasn't yet published a formal blog post or FAQ, tech insiders and app researchers have been tracking the development of the new feature. Reverse engineer Nimo Owji had already spotted signs of XChat in April, posting screenshots of a 'vanishing mode' that offers customizable message timers ranging from five minutes to 24 hours. According to TechCrunch, the beta version of XChat is currently available to a small group of early testers. There's no confirmed release timeline for a wider launch or clarity on which features might remain exclusive to premium users. Still, many on the platform are already sharing sneak peeks and impressions. X first introduced encrypted messaging in May 2023, though it was limited to paying subscribers. Under Musk's leadership, the platform has increasingly shifted key features behind a paywall, including SMS-based two-factor authentication. Now, XChat seems poised to further expand premium capabilities while also aligning with Musk's larger vision for the platform. The rollout of XChat ties into Musk's grander ambition of transforming X into an 'everything app' akin to China's WeChat. Musk has previously stated his goal is for X to support messaging, payments, dating, and even banking—all under one roof. During a company-wide meeting last year, he outlined plans for X to eventually function as both a digital bank and a dating platform. In separate news, X recently faced a significant outage on May 31 across the United States. More than 34,000 user complaints were logged on Downdetector, primarily from mobile app users. Some users reported being shown welcome screens as though signing in for the first time. Just days earlier, similar issues had affected users in India. With the launch of XChat, X continues to evolve rapidly under Musk's direction, pushing boundaries in communication, privacy, and the broader social media experience.
