On Sunday, Elon Musk announced that the newly introduced direct messaging feature of the social media platform X, known as XChat, will incorporate Bitcoin-style encryption. Currently, this feature is in beta testing for users with paid subscriptions to X, which was previously called Twitter. In addition to encryption, XChat will offer functionalities such as disappearing messages, as well as audio and video calling, alongside file-sharing capabilities. The exact timeline for a broader rollout of XChat to all eligible users has not yet been disclosed.
XChat is Built on the Rust Programming Language
Musk provided further insights about XChat through a post on the platform, emphasizing that it is developed using the Rust programming language. Rust is acknowledged for its focus on safety and efficiency, originally created by Mozilla Research and has seen increasing adoption by major platforms such as Dropbox, Cloudflare, and Discord.
The mention of “Bitcoin-style encryption” by the billionaire entrepreneur is somewhat misleading, as Bitcoin itself does not utilize conventional encryption. However, it suggests that XChat will implement cryptographic methods associated with Bitcoin and similar cryptocurrencies. Until XChat is fully launched, the specific application of these technologies remains unclear.
Additionally, Musk’s post highlights that XChat will include a feature for vanishing messages, mirroring functionalities already present in WhatsApp and Instagram, which allow messages to self-delete after a preset time when activated. The new DM feature will also accommodate cross-platform audio and video calling, although Musk did not specify which platforms would participate.
It is worth noting that XChat will be exclusively accessible to X Premium subscribers. This paid subscription offers three tiers: Basic, Premium, and Premium+. However, it remains uncertain which of these tiers will be granted access to the new DM feature.
Last week, the official X Engineering account announced that the encrypted DMs feature would be indefinitely paused to allow for “some improvements.” This pause is believed to facilitate the focus on XChat. Currently, the DM feature is in beta testing for select users, with a widespread rollout yet to begin.
