Musk Launches XChat: Encrypted Messaging, Audio/Video Calls, and Self-Destructing Messages

In a move further solidifying his ambition to transform X (formerly Twitter) into an all-encompassing “everything app,” tech titan Elon Musk has unveiled XChat, a new messaging platform boasting end-to-end encryption, self-destructing messages, and the ability to send various file types. The platform also integrates audio and video calling capabilities.

Musk emphasized that XChat is built on the Rust programming language and employs “bitcoin-like” encryption, laying the foundation for a “brand-new architecture.”

This latest iteration of the platform allows users, crucially, to conduct audio and video calls across all platforms without the need for a phone number – a privacy-focused feature that could differentiate XChat from competitors.

Currently, XChat is being rolled out to select paying users, with messages further secured by a four-digit passcode.

The introduction of XChat underscores X’s ongoing efforts to enhance privacy and encryption features. This development aligns with reports detailing Musk’s vision for X as a “super-app,” mirroring the functionality of China’s WeChat, a platform that intertwines messaging, social networking, and peer-to-peer payment services into a single, indispensable daily tool.

Musk has previously expressed admiration for Chinese platforms like WeChat, and his ambition to transform X into a comprehensive platform is well-documented. He’s even alluded to incorporating features like digital banking and a “full-fledged” dating service.

With his renewed focus on his own ventures after stepping back from certain political involvements, this launch solidifies X as a key area of focus for Musk. XChat represents not just an incremental feature addition but a significant step in executing on Musk’s grand strategy to build a widely adopted and truly versatile, all-in-one application on the global technological stage.