Elon Musk’s ambition to transform X into an “Everything App” has taken a major leap forward. Over the weekend, Musk introduced XChat, a major upgrade to the platform’s direct messaging (DM) capabilities, aimed squarely at competing with established messaging giants like WhatsApp, Signal, and WeChat.
But this isn’t a standalone app. Instead, XChat is seamlessly integrated into the X platform, enhancing its existing messaging functionality. New features include end-to-end encryption, file sharing, audio and video calls, vanishing messages, and the highly requested ability to delete messages for all. The rollout has begun, though the features currently appear to be limited to X Premium (subscription) users.
X has supported basic DMs for years, but they’ve long lagged behind what’s offered by rivals. Now, that’s changing. According to early reports and Musk’s own announcements, XChat also enables users to unread messages and activate a “vanishing mode,” which automatically deletes conversations after they’re viewed. A four-digit passcode option for added message protection is also in testing.
The company temporarily paused its existing encrypted messaging system last week to prepare for this overhaul. Although encryption has been available for paid users for nearly two years, the new version promises a fresh start with an architecture written in Rust, and what Musk refers to as “Bitcoin-style” encryption.
However, that phrase has sparked confusion. Bitcoin, in technical terms, doesn’t use encryption in the traditional sense but rather public-key cryptography for transaction validation. Critics have raised concerns that Musk’s terminology might reflect a misunderstanding or that it’s simply flashy branding.
However, Musk’s use of the term “Bitcoin-style encryption” has sparked considerable confusion and criticism among cybersecurity experts. Ian Miers, Assistant Professor of Computer Science at the University of Maryland, pointed out that “Bitcoin primarily uses signatures, not encryption,” and likened Musk’s claim to “saying we decided to run our rocket on water, since NASA uses Hydrogen and Oxygen.” Miers further noted, “Bitcoin style and Rust are not descriptions of an encryption scheme, nor are they strong indicators of security for a messaging app.” This debate highlights a gap between marketing language and technical reality, raising questions about the actual security of XChat’s new system.
XChat also lets users make audio and video calls without needing a phone number, putting it in direct competition with other privacy-centric platforms. That said, some users are still awaiting access, as the feature is currently in beta testing and has experienced service instability, including outages affecting core X functionalities.
Notably, XChat’s rollout coincided with two significant platform outages in late May, which disrupted core services such as photo loading, XMoney, timelines, and search. The timing has led some observers to speculate whether the XChat upgrade contributed to these technical issues, highlighting the operational challenges X faces as it evolves into a more complex platform.
Still, Musk remains optimistic, stating that the global rollout should happen this week unless they hit scaling issues.
XChat vs WhatsApp vs WeChat: How do they compare?
With the launch of XChat, Musk is entering a crowded and highly competitive space. Let’s compare how XChat stacks up against messaging titans WhatsApp and WeChat, each of which dominates in different parts of the world.
However, X’s recent massive data breach in April 2025, which exposed information from over 200 million accounts, raises concerns about whether the platform can truly deliver on its privacy promises.
Privacy & encryption
- XChat: Offers end-to-end encryption for paid users, with features like passcode protection, vanishing messages, and “delete for all.” Musk’s mention of “Bitcoin-style” encryption remains controversial and unclear, but privacy is clearly a major focus. There is also speculation that, following X’s $33 billion acquisition by Musk’s xAI company, future versions of XChat could integrate AI features, potentially through Grok AI, offering a differentiator from existing messaging platforms.
- WhatsApp: Industry-leading in terms of encryption. End-to-end encryption is on by default for all users, including media and voice/video calls. Also supports disappearing messages, two-step verification, and encrypted backups.
- WeChat: Known for weak privacy standards. Operated by Tencent, it’s tightly integrated with Chinese state censorship and surveillance systems. Messages are encrypted in transit but not end-to-end encrypted, and the platform collects extensive user data.
Features & ecosystem
- XChat: Still evolving. Features like file sharing, calling, encrypted DMs, and vanishing mode show promise. However, it’s still part of X and not yet a standalone ecosystem. Integration with broader X content (e.g., posts, videos) might become its unique edge. This fits into X’s broader monetisation strategy, which now includes three subscription tiers (Basic at $3/month, Premium, and Premium+ at $16/month).
- WhatsApp: Offers messaging, file sharing, group chats, payments (in some regions), and community features. Its standalone structure makes it focused and easy to use. Integration with Meta’s ecosystem (e.g., Facebook, Instagram) is growing.
- WeChat: The most feature-rich of all. Combines messaging, payments, social media, food delivery, ride-hailing, and more into one app — the ultimate “everything app” in China. It’s deeply embedded in daily life but largely unavailable or unpopular outside China.
Accessibility and monetisation
- XChat: Most features are locked behind X Premium, limiting access to those who pay. This could hinder growth unless a free tier is introduced with basic privacy features.
- WhatsApp: Completely free with no ads. Monetisation is focused on WhatsApp Business APIs and enterprise services.
- WeChat: Free to use, monetised through in-app services, advertising, and transactions. Highly accessible, though limited internationally.
Global Reach and adoption
- XChat: Built into X, which already has hundreds of millions of users. However, most users don’t come to X for messaging yet. The challenge lies in changing user habits. X currently has around 600 million active users, a significant base, but still dwarfed by its rivals.
- WhatsApp: Over 2 billion users globally. Dominates in India, Latin America, Europe, and parts of Africa. As of March 2025, WhatsApp boasts 3 billion monthly active users, making it the world’s largest messaging platform.
- WeChat: Dominant in China, with over 1.3 billion users, but very limited penetration outside Asia. WeChat maintains about 1.4 billion monthly active users, reflecting its deep integration into daily life in China.
Our thoughts
XChat is Elon Musk’s bold attempt to reinvent messaging and position X as a serious player in the space of encrypted, private communication. While promising on paper, it still faces technical, adoption, and trust challenges. WhatsApp remains the leader in privacy and user-friendliness, while WeChat sets the bar for feature integration.
Public reaction to XChat has been mixed. While premium users are excited about new features like encrypted calls and vanishing messages, others are sceptical about the “Bitcoin-style encryption” claims and frustrated by the paywall. The recent outages and security breaches have further fueled concerns about reliability and data protection.
If Musk truly wants to make X the West’s answer to WeChat, XChat needs more than cool features. It needs scale, security transparency, and a frictionless user experience, ideally without locking basic tools behind a paywall. For now, XChat is a fascinating step, but not yet a game-changer.
