Bitchat downloads spike in Nepal amid social media blackout
- Voltaire Staff
- Sep 13
- 2 min read
Bitchat, a decentralised messaging app backed by Jack Dorsey, has seen a surge in downloads in Nepal following a government ban on mainstream social media platforms, developer Calle said on X.
"Last week, we observed a sudden spike in bitchat downloads from Indonesia during nationwide protests. Today we're seeing an even bigger spike from Nepal during youth protests over government corruption and a social media ban," Calle said in a post on Friday.
A Reddit thread revealed that the surge in Bitchat downloads stemmed from fear of an internet blockade, with several users from Nepal nudging each other to download the app.
On September 8 alone, Nepal saw more than 48,000 downloads of the app.
Bitchat works over Bluetooth mesh networks, forming temporary local clusters between nearby phones. Messages hop device to device — like walkie-talkies, but for text — allowing communication even without Wi-Fi or cell signal.
The app is not yet in its final form, with developers working to integrate financial tools using Bitcoin and Ecash to enable private financial exchanges and even support commerce directly within the app.
According to Calle, who spoke to Forbes, Bitchat is experimenting with Cashu, an open-source Chaumian Ecash protocol for Bitcoin that allows bitcoin transfers in the form of messages, emojis or symbols without centralised payment processing.
Also Read: Walkie-talkie, but for text: Bitchat Jack Dorsey's another push to decentralise messaging
Dorsey, the co-founder of Twitter and Block, has been promoting Bitchat as an alternative mode of communication that is censorship-resistant and user-controlled.
The app's growth comes as Nepal reels from weeks of political turmoil.
The government in Kathmandu last week blocked Facebook, X, and YouTube after the platforms refused to register locally.
Protests have since escalated, leaving at least 47 people dead, according to local media. Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli resigned and fled the country as clashes intensified.
While authorities attempt to curb dissent, Nepal's Gen Z activists are flooding the internet with reels and short videos documenting what many are calling a "revolution."
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