Iran’s Kill Switch Fails: Protesters Bypass Blackout With Dorsey’s ‘Bitchat’ Mesh
Iranian protesters are bypassing a state-imposed internet blackout using Bitchat, a Bluetooth mesh protocol that enables offline communication and Bitcoin settlements.
The Iranian regime’s attempt to sever digital communications has hit a technical wall. Despite a total internet blackout initiated on January 8, protesters in Tehran and Isfahan are coordinating via Bitchat, a decentralized messaging protocol that routes data through local Bluetooth mesh networks rather than central servers.
The Mesh vs. The State
Adoption of the application, developed by Permissionless Tech (funded by Block Inc.), spiked 400% in the region over the last 72 hours. While the Islamic Republic successfully cut off TCP/IP traffic to quell the twelfth day of unrest, they failed to account for Bitchat’s “store-and-forward” architecture.
The protocol allows messages to hop from device to device via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) within a 300-meter range. Data packets propagate through this ad-hoc human network until they reach a node with satellite or intermittent connectivity, at which point they are broadcast globally via the Nostr relay network.
“Bitchat turns every smartphone into a localized cell tower. You don’t need an ISP to send a warning; you just need a neighbor.”
Transactions Without Connection
Beyond communication, the app is processing survival-level economy. The protocol supports offline Bitcoin signing, allowing merchants in blackout zones to accept payments that settle once a peer reconnects to the network. Bitcoin (BTC) held firm at $91,801 (+1.3%) Monday, with on-chain volume from the region showing a distinct uptick in batched settlements, likely the result of these mesh networks syncing.
Deadly Context
The stakes are physical, not just digital. Amnesty International confirmed at least 28 casualties since protests began on December 31, 2025. The blackout was intended to hide this crackdown, disrupting hospitals and banking systems. Instead, it has inadvertently stress-tested decentralized infrastructure at a nation-state scale, validating the thesis that peer-to-peer tech is the only reliable utility in a crisis.
