Elon Musk has launched a new feature for X, a social media platform he owns, called XChat. This direct messaging feature boasts "Bitcoin-style encryption" and is built on the Rust programming language with a completely new architecture. Key features of XChat include:
End-to-End Security: Ensuring messages are secure from unauthorized access
Disappearing Messages: Allowing users to send messages that disappear after a set time
Voice and Video Calling: Enabling users to make voice and video calls without needing to share phone numbers
File Sharing: Supporting all file types for seamless sharing
However, Musk's claim about "Bitcoin-style encryption" has sparked controversy among Bitcoin developers and cryptography experts. They argue that Bitcoin doesn't use encryption in the way Musk implies. Specifically:
Luke Dashjr, Bitcoin Core developer and OCEAN CEO, stated that "Bitcoin doesn't even use encryption"
Samson Mow, JAN3 CEO and Bitcoin supporter, echoed this sentiment, saying "Bitcoin is not encrypted"
Some experts speculate that Musk might be referring to Bitcoin's BIP-151 peer-to-peer communication encryption or its elliptic curve cryptography, which secures transactions without revealing private keys.
In related news, X is also working on a payments feature called X Money, which is currently in beta testing. This development aligns with Musk's vision of creating an "everything app" similar to WeChat, with features beyond typical social media platforms.
👉This is not investment advice.