Elon Musk confirms launch of standalone “𝕏 Chat” app: A Privacy-First challenger to WhatsApp and Messaging Giants

Austin, Texas: In a bold move to accelerate X’s transformation into the “everything app,” Elon Musk has confirmed the upcoming launch of 𝕏 Chat, a standalone messaging application designed to rival dominant players like WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, and WeChat. The announcement, made during a recent podcast appearance, marks a significant evolution from the in-app 𝕏 Chat feature rolled out earlier this month.

From In-App feature to standalone powerhouse

𝕏 Chat initially debuted on October 20, 2025, as an end-to-end encrypted upgrade to X’s direct messaging (DM) system. Musk promoted it aggressively, touting features like peer-to-peer encryption, audio/video calls, file sharing, disappearing messages, and screenshot notifications – all accessible via the left menu in the X app. “Even if someone puts a gun to my head, I still can’t read your messages,” Musk emphasized, positioning it as superior to rivals like Signal.

The in-app version quickly gained traction, with Musk declaring it “better than Signal” and free from advertising “hooks” that plague competitors like WhatsApp, which Meta acquired for $19 billion partly for its data-mining potential. No AWS dependencies, no third-party trackers – 𝕏 Chat stayed operational during recent outages that crippled other apps.

Now, Musk has escalated: 𝕏 Chat will become a fully independent app. Speaking on the podcast, he revealed “Bitcoin-like” encryption – fully decentralized, peer-to-peer, with no intermediaries – ensuring unbreakable privacy. “We will launch an instant messaging app called ‘𝕏 Chat’ to compete with Telegram and WhatsApp,” Musk stated, as reported by multiple outlets.

The standalone version promises:

• Cross-platform audio/video calls without phone number linking
• Unlimited file transfers (photos, videos, documents, GIFs)
• Group chats and collaboration tools
• Zero ads or data sales – privacy as the core promise
• Seamless integration with X for social features, payments, and AI (Grok)

Why Now? X’s “Everything App” vision takes shape

Musk’s ambition for X – rebranded from Twitter in 2023 – has always included super-app supremacy like China’s WeChat. With 600+ million monthly users on X, 𝕏 Chat leverages this base for instant scale. The timing aligns with growing privacy concerns: WhatsApp’s data practices, Signal’s recent vulnerabilities, and AWS outages exposed rivals’ weaknesses.

Viral buzz erupted on X, with influencers like @cb_doge amplifying the news: “BREAKING: Elon Musk confirms 𝕏 will launch a standalone app ‘𝕏 Chat’.” Posts garnered millions of views, signaling massive anticipation.

Critics question if 𝕏 Chat can dethrone WhatsApp’s network effects, especially outside the US. However, X’s 600M+ users provide a launchpad, and features like Grok AI integration and crypto payments could differentiate it.

Musk teased more: “Privacy features coming… and much more.” Beta testers report blazing speed and flawless encryption audits.

The privacy revolution begins

As Musk puts it: “𝕏 Chat doesn’t have and never will have any ‘hooks for advertising’.” In a world of surveillance capitalism, this could be the killer app X needs.