Hurricane Melissa cuts off the network! Bitchat ranks second on the Jamaican app chart, saving 2.8 million people.

The deadly hurricane Melissa continues to wreak havoc in the Caribbean, and with regular communication channels disrupted, Jamaicans are flocking to download the decentralized peer-to-peer instant messaging app Bitchat. Bitchat uses a Bluetooth mesh network for encryption communication without the need for the internet, and it has now become the second most downloaded app on the Jamaican Apple App Store and Google Play Store, providing a lifeline for 2.8 million Jamaicans.

Bluetooth mesh networking technology is a lifeline in disaster

(Source: AppFigure)

Bitchat uses Bluetooth mesh networking for encryption communication without the need for the internet, a technology that has demonstrated immense value during the communication disruptions caused by Hurricane Melissa. Traditional instant messaging applications like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Telegram rely on internet connectivity, and once the base station is damaged or power is interrupted, these applications fail immediately. However, Bitchat's Bluetooth mesh networking technology allows users to communicate via Bluetooth peer-to-peer connections without the internet.

The operating principle of mesh networks is that each device acts as both an endpoint and a relay node. When two users are too far apart to connect directly via Bluetooth, messages can be relayed through intermediate Bitchat user devices, eventually reaching the target user. This design allows the communication range to expand infinitely, as long as there are enough Bitchat users distributed in the area. In Jamaica, a country with a relatively high population density, the effectiveness of mesh networks is particularly significant.

Bitchat has now become the second most downloaded app in the Jamaican Apple App Store and Google Play Store, providing a lifeline to 2.8 million Jamaicans as internet coverage in the region continues to decline. Wednesday's app ranking data shows that Bitchat is only behind the weather forecasting platform Zoom Earth. This ranking is highly symbolic: first is understanding disaster situations (weather forecast), and second is connecting with family and friends (communication), which are the two most basic needs of people during a disaster.

Encrypted communication functions are equally important in disaster scenarios. When governments and rescue agencies need to coordinate actions, encryption can prevent messages from being maliciously intercepted or disrupted. For the general public, while encryption may not be the primary consideration, protecting personal privacy and security still holds value in the chaotic post-disaster environment. Bitchat combines the three key features of Decentralization, offline communication, and encryption security, making it an ideal communication tool for disaster scenarios.

The Devastating Impact of Hurricane Melissa

CNN reported on Wednesday that Hurricane Melissa has caused over 30 deaths in the Caribbean, including at least 23 in Haiti, with countless homes and businesses destroyed. The Caribbean region was hit by winds of up to 185 mph, strong enough to rip roofs off most buildings, uproot large trees, and cause widespread power outages and communication disruptions. As an island nation, Jamaica's communication infrastructure was already relatively fragile, and the hurricane's impact has resulted in extensive damage to mobile phone towers, with undersea cables also possibly affected.

In this extreme situation, conventional communication channels are almost completely cut off. Mobile phones cannot make calls, text messages cannot be sent, and internet-dependent applications like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger are all rendered useless. For those in disaster areas, the inability to contact family, lack of information about external rescue efforts, and the inability to seek help from the outside world can be more terrifying than physical damage. In this context, Bitchat's Bluetooth mesh network technology demonstrates its unique value.

Jamaicans have flocked to download Bitchat, causing it to surge to the second position on the app store rankings in a very short time. This explosive growth shows that when life safety is threatened, the practicality of technology is far more important than brand recognition. Many users may have never heard of Bitchat before, but they quickly learned about it and downloaded it through word of mouth during the disaster. This organic growth is unmatched by any marketing campaign, as it is built on real demand and user experience.

From the perspective of Bitchat, this hurricane disaster is both a practical test of its technology and the best proof of its value proposition. Testing Bluetooth mesh networks in a laboratory environment is one thing, but providing communication services for 2.8 million people in a real disaster scenario is another. If Bitchat can maintain stable operation during this disaster, its technological reliability will gain full recognition from the market.

Global Expansion of Bitchat and Decentralization Communication Trends

Until recently, the popularity of decentralized, encrypted messaging applications mainly stemmed from users leaving centralized communication platforms that may censor content or impose other restrictions. However, Bitchat has become an important solution for people in countries with internet access disruptions (whether due to government intervention or natural disasters). This shift in value positioning from “privacy protection” to “disaster communication” has opened up broader market space for Bitchat.

In September, due to government corruption and a social media ban (blocking Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and YouTube), the download volume of Bitchat in Nepal surged, triggering large-scale protests. A week earlier, Indonesia also saw an increase in Bitchat downloads due to protests. Later that month, a similar incident occurred in Madagascar, coinciding with ongoing public protests against water shortages.

These cases demonstrate that Bitchat is becoming the standard solution for “network interruption” scenarios globally. Whether due to natural disasters (such as hurricanes in Jamaica), government intervention (such as social media bans in Nepal), or inadequate infrastructure (such as in Madagascar), whenever communication interruptions occur, the download volume of Bitchat surges. This “crisis-driven growth” model, while not a traditional business strategy, does indeed prove the core value of the product.

Bitchat Global Outbreak Case Timeline:

September 2025 - Nepal: Government social media ban sparks protests, Bitchat downloads surge

September 2025 - Indonesia: Internet restrictions during protests, users turn to Bitchat

September 2025 - Madagascar: Public protests over water shortages, communication disruptions drive the adoption of Bitchat.

October 2025 - Jamaica: Hurricane Melissa strikes, Bitchat surges to second place on the app charts.

From this timeline, it can be seen that Bitchat has experienced multiple explosive growths in the past two months. Each crisis has brought new user groups to Bitchat, and these users are likely to continue using the app after the crisis ends, as they have already experienced the advantages of Decentralization communication. This user retention will establish a stable active user base for Bitchat.

EU Chat Control Bill Promotes Decentralization Communication Demand

The EU has also been considering the controversial “chat control” bill, which would eliminate encryption messaging and force applications like Telegram, WhatsApp, and Signal to allow regulators to review messages before they are encrypted and sent. This proposal, aimed at discovering child abuse materials, came close to passing in October, but Germany later expressed opposition, arguing that scanning private information violates the constitution. The vote has now been postponed, with another vote scheduled for early December.

The controversy surrounding the chat control bill highlights the fundamental issue of centralized communication platforms: they must comply with government regulations, which means that user privacy may be sacrificed at any time. Even if the intention is to combat crime, this approach of comprehensive surveillance raises widespread concerns about civil liberties. Germany's opposition reflects the high value European societies place on privacy rights, but the bill may still pass after amendments.

If the chat control bill is ultimately implemented in the EU, applications like Telegram, WhatsApp, and Signal will face a dilemma: either comply with regulations allowing regulatory scrutiny or exit the EU market. Either choice will create significant opportunities for decentralized communication applications like Bitchat. Because Bitchat uses a peer-to-peer architecture without centralized servers, regulatory agencies will have no way to conduct scrutiny even if they want to. This technological architecture inherently possesses censorship-resistant characteristics.

From a long-term trend perspective, the demand for privacy protection and anti-censorship communication is rising globally. Whether it is political censorship in authoritarian countries, security surveillance in democratic nations, or infrastructure disruptions caused by natural disasters, users are being driven to seek more reliable and private communication solutions. Bitchat, as a leader in this field, has the opportunity to become the standard application for global Decentralization communication.

As the co-founder of Twitter and CEO of Block (formerly Square), Jack Dorsey's endorsement provides strong credibility for Bitchat. Dorsey has long been an advocate of Decentralization and freedom of speech, having repeatedly expressed concerns about censorship in centralized social media during his time at Twitter. Bitchat is a concrete realization of his ideal communication tool, and this ideology-driven product development often attracts like-minded user groups.

From an investment perspective, although Bitchat may not yet be tokenized, its demonstrated user growth potential and technological value make it a project worth paying attention to. If Bitchat launches a token or is acquired and integrated by other encryption projects in the future, early observers may achieve significant returns. More importantly, Bitchat's success validates the market demand for decentralized communication in this sector, and related projects like Session and Status are also worth continued attention.