Bitchat, a decentralized messaging application developed by Jack Dorsey, has been removed from the App Store in China following a request from the country’s internet regulator.

Singapore Summit: Meet the largest APAC brokers you know (and those you still don't!).

Dorsey said in a post on X that the app was taken down earlier this year. He wrote that “Bitchat pulled from the China App Store,” and shared a notice from Apple’s app review team. The notice stated that the app had been removed in February and that its TestFlight beta version would no longer be available in China. The decision was made at the request of the Cyberspace Administration of China.

Apple Blocks Bitchat, Cites Local Laws

According to the notice, the regulator determined that Bitchat violated rules governing online services with “public opinion or social mobilization capabilities.” These rules came into force in 2018. Under the provisions, such services must undergo a security assessment before launch and “be responsible for the assessment results.”

• China Replaces Crypto Ban with Stricter Regime, Carves Out Narrow Path for State-Controlled RWA
• China to Squeeze HFTs out of Exchange Data Centers in Attack on Speed Advantage
• New Details on MetaTrader Crash in China: Outage Lasted Over a Week, Affected New Users

Apple’s app review team said developers must comply with local laws in all markets where their apps are available. The team added that “it is your responsibility to understand and make sure your app conforms with all local laws,” and noted that apps encouraging unlawful or risky behavior would be rejected.

Bitchat operates without a central server. It uses Bluetooth and mesh networks to transmit messages directly between devices. The system does not rely on internet access. This structure has made the app difficult to control through conventional network restrictions.

Millions Download Bitchat Outside China Markets

In recent months, the app has gained traction during protests in several countries, including Madagascar, Uganda, Nepal, Indonesia, and Iran. Authorities in those countries had attempted to limit internet access or block communication platforms, Cointelegraph reported.

Despite its removal in China, Bitchat remains available in other regions, according to Apple. Download data indicates growing usage. Figures from the Chrome platform show more than three million downloads, including over 92,000 in the past week. The Google Play Store reports more than one million installs. The data does not specify geographic distribution.