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Bitchat – A decentralized messaging app that works over Bluetooth mesh networks

(github.com)
778 points ananddtyagi | 1 comments | 07 Jul 25 00:05 UTC | HN request time: 0.205s | source
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moneywaters ◴[07 Jul 25 05:35 UTC] No.44487086[source]▶
I’ve been toying with a concept inspired by Apple’s Find My network: Imagine a decentralized, delay-tolerant messaging system where messages hop device-to-device (e.g., via Bluetooth, UWB, Wi-Fi Direct), similar to how “Find My” relays location via nearby iPhones.

Now add a twist: • Senders pay a small fee to send a message. • Relaying devices earn a micro-payment (could be tokens, sats, etc.) for carrying the message one hop further. • End-to-end encrypted, fully decentralized, optionally anonymous.

Basically, a “postal network” built on people’s phones, without needing a traditional internet connection. Works best in areas with patchy or no internet, or under censorship.

Obvious challenges: • Latency and reliability (it’s not real-time). • Abuse/spam prevention. • Power consumption and user opt-in. • Viable incentive structures.

What do you think? Is this viable? Any real-world use cases where this might be actually useful — or is it just a neat academic toy?

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yetihehe ◴[07 Jul 25 06:06 UTC] No.44487219[source]▶
Who would you pay for sending messages? That's your centralization point. Alternatively if you allow "starting balance", how would you prevent from making a lot of accounts for spam sending?
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1. immibis ◴[07 Jul 25 15:35 UTC] No.44491440[source]▶
This is the same problem as bootstrapping a cryptocurrency. There are various ways, none very good. You could mine it with proof of work. You could distribute it widely to important figures, such as operators of big relays (as long as the internet stays up, there are going to be people sending messages inter-city through the internet instead of by plane). Perhaps you give half to big relay operators and half to their currently connected clients, that would incentivize people to get on the network early and try it out.