X (Twitter) Unveils Encrypted Messaging Beta with Bitcoin-Style Security, Eyeing Super App Ambitions
X, formerly Twitter, has launched a beta version of its encrypted messaging feature, introducing end-to-end encryption, disappearing messages, and secure file transfers. Promoted by Elon Musk as a potential challenger to platforms like Telegram and WeChat, the service employs ’Bitcoin-style encryption’ using elliptic curve cryptography (ECC), digital signatures (ECDSA), and SHA-256 hashing, mirroring security practices common in the cryptocurrency sector. Each user is assigned a unique public/private key pair protected by a PIN, with messages encrypted before transmission and only accessible by sender and receiver. New features include message retraction (’delete for both’) and private key removal upon logout, further boosting privacy. X plans to expand its platform into a ’super app’ that could integrate payments (XPay), AI assistants, and social features. The rollout signals X’s pivot towards privacy-centric communication, leveraging cryptographic techniques similar to those used in crypto, and reflecting a growing market trend of convergence between social media, privacy demands, and digital asset adoption. This move may attract traders and users seeking secure interactions and positions X as an evolving player in the broader crypto ecosystem.
Bullish
The introduction of highly secure, privacy-focused messaging on X, combined with the adoption of cryptographic methods familiar to crypto users, aligns with growing market demand for confidentiality and decentralized privacy solutions. Speculation about integrating payments and AI features reflects X’s ambitions to become a super app akin to WeChat, which could further support the adoption of digital assets on the platform. As X incorporates more crypto-native technologies and signaling intent for broader crypto adoption, this news could drive higher platform engagement from crypto traders and enthusiasts, potentially benefiting cryptocurrencies, especially if future payment features support digital assets directly. Historically, such moves by major platforms towards crypto infrastructure tend to spark bullish sentiment in digital asset markets.