Elon Musk’s social media platform X has introduced XChat, a revamped messaging system designed to replace the platform’s legacy Direct Messages (DMs). Announced on June 1, 2025, XChat promises to deliver a secure, feature-rich, and versatile communication experience, positioning X as a direct competitor to established messaging giants like WhatsApp, Signal, and Telegram.
With end-to-end encryption, vanishing messages, file sharing, and audio/video calling, XChat is a cornerstone of Musk’s vision to transform X into an “everything app” akin to China’s WeChat. This article dives deep into how XChat works, where it’s available, its expected rollout timeline, and the broader implications for users and the platform’s future.
How XChat works
XChat is a comprehensive overhaul of X’s messaging infrastructure, built from the ground up to address the limitations of the platform’s outdated DM system. Below is a detailed breakdown of its core features, based on announcements from Musk and insights from early beta testers:
1. End-to-End Encryption
XChat’s flagship feature is its end-to-end encryption, ensuring that only the sender and recipient can access the content of messages, calls, and shared files. This encryption is touted as a “Bitcoin-style” mechanism, a term that has sparked debate among experts.
While Musk’s phrasing suggests inspiration from Bitcoin’s cryptographic principles—such as elliptic curve cryptography (ECC) and secure hash algorithms (SHA-256)—Bitcoin transactions are not encrypted in the traditional sense, relying instead on cryptographic signatures for authenticity.
Experts speculate that XChat likely employs ECC for efficient, robust security with smaller key sizes, enhancing performance across devices. However, X has not released technical details, and the system awaits independent security audits to validate its claims. Messages are further secured with a four-digit passcode, adding an extra layer of protection.
2. Vanishing Mode
XChat introduces a vanishing mode, allowing users to set timers for messages to self-destruct after a specified period, ranging from five minutes to one day. This feature enhances privacy for sensitive conversations, aligning XChat with apps like Signal and Snapchat, where ephemeral messaging is a key draw. Users can ensure that their communications leave no permanent trace, appealing to those concerned about data retention and surveillance.
3. File Sharing
Unlike the legacy DM system, which had limited file-sharing capabilities, XChat allows users to send any type of file, including images, videos, PDFs, documents, and even code. This versatility makes XChat a powerful tool for both personal and professional communication, catering to diverse use cases such as sharing media, collaborating on projects, or exchanging large files securely.
4. Audio and Video Calling
XChat supports audio and video calls across all platforms—web, iOS, and Android—without requiring a phone number. This feature enhances user anonymity and flexibility, as it removes the need to link identifiable information to accounts. The calls are reportedly end-to-end encrypted, positioning XChat as a viable alternative to platforms like WhatsApp and FaceTime. The cross-platform functionality ensures seamless communication across devices, addressing a common pain point in modern messaging apps.
5. Advanced Group Chats
XChat offers advanced group chat functionality, enabling more robust collaboration and social interaction. While specific details about group chat features are still emerging, early reports suggest support for larger groups, enhanced moderation tools, and integration with other X platform features. This positions XChat as a tool for communities, businesses, and social circles alike.
6. Mark as Unread and Delete for All
Users can mark messages as unread for better conversation management and delete messages for all participants, providing greater control over shared content. These features enhance usability, allowing users to revisit conversations or retract messages as needed.
7. New Architecture Built on Rust
XChat is built on a new backend architecture using the Rust programming language, known for its performance, security, and memory safety. Rust’s ability to prevent vulnerabilities like memory corruption—responsible for two-thirds of Google’s security issues in 2024—makes it an ideal choice for a secure messaging platform. This new architecture is designed to overcome the clunkiness of X’s legacy DM system, offering a smoother and more reliable user experience.
Where XChat works
XChat is integrated into the X platform and does not function as a standalone app, at least in its initial rollout. It is accessible across the following platforms:
- X Web Platform: Users can access XChat through the X website, making it convenient for desktop and browser-based communication.
- X iOS App: Available on iPhones and iPads, XChat integrates seamlessly with the existing X mobile app.
- X Android App: Android users can access XChat within the X app, ensuring broad compatibility across mobile devices.
The absence of a phone number requirement for audio and video calls enhances XChat’s accessibility, allowing users to communicate anonymously across devices. Currently, XChat is in beta testing, primarily available to X Premium subscribers, particularly those on the Premium+ tier.
This limited rollout suggests a tiered access model, where premium users receive early access to advanced features, while free users may have restricted functionality for instance, basic messaging without calls or extended file-sharing limits.
Geographically, XChat is being tested in regions where X operates, with no specific restrictions noted. However, its global appeal will depend on X’s ability to scale infrastructure and address regional privacy regulations. For instance, in areas with strict data protection laws like the European Union, XChat’s encryption and privacy features could resonate strongly, provided they pass regulatory scrutiny.
When XChat is expected to go live
XChat began its beta rollout in late May 2025, with select X Premium subscribers gaining access to the feature. On June 1, 2025, Elon Musk announced that XChat would roll out to all X Premium subscribers within the week, barring any scaling issues.
A broader release to all users, including free accounts, is expected in the coming weeks, though no official timeline has been confirmed. The rollout follows X’s decision to pause its previous encrypted DM feature on May 29, 2025, to focus on integrating XChat as a full replacement for the legacy system.
A step toward the “Everything App”
XChat is a critical component of Musk’s broader vision to transform X into an “everything app”, combining messaging, social networking, payments, and potentially other services like dating and digital banking. A key aspect of this vision is the integration of X Money, a peer-to-peer payment system developed in partnership with Visa. Expected to launch in beta in 2025, X Money aims to enable users to transfer funds or host savings directly within the X platform, similar to WeChat’s payment ecosystem.
XChat’s secure messaging infrastructure lays the groundwork for these financial transactions by providing a trusted environment for sensitive communications. The platform’s encryption and vanishing mode could facilitate secure payment confirmations, while group chats might support collaborative financial activities, such as splitting bills or crowdfunding.
However, X’s payment ambitions face significant hurdles, including regulatory challenges. For example, New York lawmakers rejected X’s payment processing license application in 2025 due to concerns over foreign investment ties, limiting its ability to operate as a financial platform in key markets.
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