India Moves to Block Jack Dorsey’s Offline Bitcoin Messaging App

India’s cybercrime authorities have directed GitHub to pull down code repositories for Bitchat, an offline messaging tool built by Block CEO Jack Dorsey, as protesters in Delhi turn to Bluetooth-based communication to get around internet blackouts.

The order came from the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, a unit under the Home Ministry, which cited Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act. It named three specific repositories connected to the app and gave GitHub just three hours to cut off access. According to the notice, the app lets people communicate anonymously without phone numbers, registration or any central logging system, something officials say makes it much harder for law enforcement to trace or investigate users.

How the App Keeps Working Without Internet

Bitchat doesn’t need Wi-Fi, mobile data or servers. Instead, it passes encrypted messages directly between nearby phones using Bluetooth, creating a mesh network. Dorsey made the app open-source back in July 2025. It also carries bitcoin transactions the same way, moving them from phone to phone until one device finally connects and pushes the transaction onto the network, useful during shutdowns, disasters or blackouts.

Protesters Turn to Mesh Networks

Since July 20, Indian cities have witnessed large scale protests led by student groups calling themselves the Cockroach Janta Party, a jab at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, over a national exam scandal. Police have responded with tear gas and baton charges. As authorities repeatedly cut internet access near protest zones in Delhi, demonstrators have leaned on Bluetooth mesh apps like Bitchat to stay connected once networks go dark.

Enforcement Remains Unclear

It’s still not confirmed whether GitHub acted within the three-hour deadline. The app remained available for download on both Android and iOS platforms as of Friday afternoon in Asia.