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

(github.com)

770 points ananddtyagi | 1 comments | 07 Jul 25 00:05 UTC | HN request time: 0.314s | 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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iSnow ◴[07 Jul 25 08:29 UTC] No.44487994[source]▶

>>44487086 #

I like the idea, I just don't know how to implement a robust micropayment system that does not require a lot of messages back and forth for a transaction. Given the intended use-case, that would not work.

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kosolam ◴[07 Jul 25 09:02 UTC] No.44488216[source]▶

>>44487994 #

I can design such a system in a couple of minutes. As the adjacent commenter said it can be done with a blockchain, using smart contacts. 1. Sender deposits fee 2. Message includes unlocking code that itself only can be unlocked by the recipient 3. Message getting wrapped with details of forwarders while it moves between peers 4. Recipient unlocks the message via the smart contract thereby releasing the micropayments to the forwarders

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1. WantonQuantum ◴[08 Jul 25 00:17 UTC] No.44495820[source]▶

>>44488216 #

I'd like to better understand steps 3 and 4.

The sender deposits a fee into a smart contract.

The message is encrypted in layers, with each forwarder only able to decrypt their part (like an onion).

As the message is forwarded peer-to-peer, each forwarder appends some kind of proof-of-forwarding.

When the recipient finally receives and decrypts the message, they unlock the contract using a code embedded in the message. This triggers micropayments to all the forwarders.

Do forwarders need to interact with the blockchain (i.e., create/update a smart contract) when forwarding?

If so, wouldn’t that require each forwarder to have internet access at the time of forwarding—which breaks the idea of fully offline Bluetooth relaying?

Or is all the blockchain interaction deferred to the recipient, who proves the path the message took and triggers all payments at once?

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