Elon Musk’s XChat feature enables audio, video calls on X without a phone number

Elon Musk has introduced XChat, a new communication feature on X (formerly Twitter), as part of his vision to evolve the platform into an “everything app”. XChat brings Bitcoin-style encryption, disappearing messages, and cross-platform audio and video calls—all without requiring a phone number.


The development comes after X introduced a new direct message (DM) feature for beta users followed by advanced group chats and a vanishing mode to automatically delete messages after a certain period.


Also Read: ETtech Explainer: What is XChat, the new DM feature coming to X?

Decoding Bitcoin-style architecture

While the technical details are still under wraps, “Bitcoin-style” likely refers to elliptic curve cryptography (ECC)—a secure method used in many encrypted messaging systems. In ECC, each user has a private key (kept secret) and a public key (shared openly). Messages are encrypted using the recipient’s public key and can only be decrypted by their private key.

Simply put, this is a layered privacy feature built from Rust, a programming language known for its speed and memory safety. Thus, Musk is reinforcing his commitment to a safe and secure platform experience, where messages are encrypted behind a four-digit passcode.

XChat beneficiaries

Several beta testers who have paid for X's subscription product have been able to access XChat. Earlier, X users with a paid subscription were able to use a limited version of encrypted messaging for two years.

Similarities with Meta

XChat's encrypted feature is similar to what Meta Platforms like WhatsApp and Instagram are trying to achieve. WhatsApp uses a protocol for full end-to-end encryption. Messenger and Instagram are rolling out E2E encryption across chats gradually. The shift highlights a broader trend towards user privacy and autonomy.