Apple removed Jack Dorsey’s Bitchat from the China App Store after a request from the Cyberspace Administration of China. The move also ended the app’s TestFlight beta access in China. Dorsey disclosed the action in a post on X, where he shared a screenshot from Apple’s app review team.
The notice said Bitchat removed in China followed a request from Chinese regulators. Apple told Dorsey that the app did not meet local legal requirements for internet services in China. Dorsey responded with a short comment: “Bitchat pulled from the China App Store.”
The case quickly drew attention because Bitchat does not work like a standard chat service. The decentralized messaging app runs through Bluetooth mesh network connections and does not depend on a normal internet link. As a result, it can still function when internet access is limited or blocked.
Bitchat China Removal Follows CAC Internet Service Rules
The Cyberspace Administration of China said Jack Dorsey’s Bitchat violated Article 3 of its rules for online services with public opinion or social mobilization functions. These rules took effect in 2018. They require such services to complete a security review before launch.
According to a translated version of the rules, platforms that can shape public opinion or support public mobilization must carry out a security assessment and “be responsible for the assessment results.” Chinese regulators appear to have applied that rule to Bitchat China because of the app’s communication model and possible use during periods of public unrest.
Apple also repeated that apps in its store must comply with local rules in each market where they operate. In its message, the company said,
“We know this stuff is complicated, but it is your responsibility to understand and make sure your app conforms with all local laws, not just the guidelines below.”
It also added that apps that “solicit, promote or encourage criminal or reckless behavior will be rejected.”
Jack Dorsey Bitchat Grew During Internet Restrictions and Protests
Reports said Bitchat gained users during protests in Madagascar, Uganda, Nepal, Indonesia and Iran. In those cases, authorities tried to disrupt internet access or limit standard communication channels. Because the decentralized messaging app works through a Bluetooth mesh network, it remained usable even without a normal online connection.
That feature helped increase interest in the service. Chrome download stats show more than 3 million downloads for Jack Dorsey’s Bitchat. The same data shows over 92,000 downloads in the past week. On the Google Play Store, the app has more than 1 million registered downloads.
However, those figures do not show which countries drove most of the growth. They also do not separate protest-related usage from normal downloads. Still, the numbers show that Bitchat removed in China came after the app had already gained broad attention outside the country.
Apple China App Store Action Is Limited to China While WeChat Stays Dominant
Apple’s notice said Bitchat remains available in other countries. So, the Apple China App Store action applies only to China. There is no indication in the report that Apple removed the app from other markets.
The app’s design likely made it sensitive in China. A service built around peer to peer encrypted messaging, without relying on central internet systems, does not fit easily into a tightly controlled digital environment. That put Bitchat China at odds with a system known for close oversight of online communication.
By comparison, WeChat, owned by Tencent, remains the main messaging platform in China. It has an estimated 810 million users in China out of a national population of more than 1.4 billion. That gap shows how large China’s domestic messaging market is, while foreign or nontraditional services face stricter control.
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Tatevik Avetisyan is an editor at Kriptoworld who covers emerging crypto trends, blockchain innovation, and altcoin developments. She is passionate about breaking down complex stories for a global audience and making digital finance more accessible.
📅 Published: April 6, 2026 • 🕓 Last updated: April 6, 2026
