Musk’s XChat Debuts, Sparks Messaging War

Elon Musk is inching closer to his dream of transforming X into a Western version of WeChat. Over the weekend, he announced the launch of XChat, a secure messaging tool embedded into the X platform, previously known as Twitter. This feature aims to directly compete with WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal, signalling Musk’s bold move into the global instant messaging space.

In a Sunday post, Musk shared details of the upgrade, describing XChat as a completely rebuilt system. “All new XChat is rolling out with encryption, vanishing messages, and the ability to send any kind of file,” he wrote. He added that the platform was “built on Rust with (Bitcoin style) encryption,” and allows users to “do audio/video calls without a phone number across all platforms.” These updates position XChat as a potentially disruptive alternative in the privacy-conscious communication landscape.

Musk’s Everything-App Vision Gets Re

Behind the rollout lies a larger plan: turning X into an everything app that mirrors the success of China’s WeChat. According to earlier reports from The Verge, Musk previously told X staff that he expects the app to evolve into a digital bank, commerce hub, and even a dating service by 2024. While this vision may still sound ambitious, the launch of XChat suggests it’s no longer just talk.

App researcher Nima Owji shared leaked screenshots of XChat features currently in beta for paid X users. These include group chats, vanish mode, and a four-digit passcode option to secure messages. Compared to its basic direct messaging system, XChat offers a robust suite of tools that could attract a new wave of users.

But Musk isn’t alone in chasing the super-app dream. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is also developing a competitor via his side project, World, which recently introduced Orbs, a biometric ID system and app store aimed at redefining user interaction online. As competition intensifies, platforms like WhatsApp may soon have more than just user numbers to worry about.