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Elon Musk says XChat is rolling out to all, but questions remain about itsalleged security

Elon Musk announced that the new XChat feature, including encryption and multimedia support, will roll out this week, though it remains in beta. Questions arise about the security claims, particularly the term 'Bitcoin-style encryption.' Despite its potential, recent instability on the platform raises concerns about reliability during the launch.

Key points

  • Musk announced XChat's rollout with features like vanishing messages and multimedia support.
  • XChat has started beta testing, with a full release expected soon, barring scaling issues.
  • Updates include being built on Rust and using 'Bitcoin-style' encryption, leading to confusion over security terminology.
  • X aims for XChat to rival platforms like Signal and iMessage with its DM capabilities.
  • There have been recent service outages and instability, affecting user experience.

Why it matters

  • Elon Musk's focus on creating encrypted communications aligns with rising privacy concerns in social media.
  • The interest in DM encryption reflects broader industry trends towards user security and data protection.
  • As of 2025, the demand for secure communication tools surged, especially post-privacy scandals.

Elon Musk's launch of XChat aims to compete in the encrypted messaging space but faces scrutiny over its security claims and technical reliability, highlighting ongoing concerns about user privacy in digital communications.