What is Elon Musk’s XChat?

X, formerly Twitter, is rolling out a new feature called XChat, which is a messaging tool that aims to rival the likes of WhatsApp and Telegram. Announced by Elon Musk in a post on X earlier this week, XChat marks the platform’s latest move toward becoming an all-in-one digital hub for daily life.

An ambitious project with a lot to watch for

According to Musk, XChat supports end-to-end encryption, disappearing messages, and the ability to send any file type. Users can also make audio, and video calls across devices without needing a phone number, a notable distinction from many mainstream messaging apps.

One of the most intriguing elements of XChat is its approach to security. Musk described the system as using “(Bitcoin style) encryption” built on a “whole new architecture.”

While he didn’t elaborate on the technical specifics, the phrasing suggests that XChat may employ decentralised or blockchain-inspired mechanisms. How it stacks up against the end-to-end encryption used by competitors like Signal or WhatsApp remains unclear.

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XChat’s debut comes shortly after the company paused development on its existing encrypted DM feature, which had been in limited testing for paid users. That decision now appears to have been a strategic shift, with XChat positioned as a full replacement for the older DM system, and a significant upgrade in terms of privacy and capabilities.

With this release, Musk is continuing his long-term vision of transforming X into something far beyond a social media platform. Messaging, commerce, media, and payments have all been hinted at as future pillars of the app. XChat could become a foundational component in that transformation, especially as users increasingly look for secure, all-in-one alternatives in a crowded app ecosystem.

As always with X, the ambition is big, and the rollout will be one to watch.