Elon Musk confirms limited beta rollout of X’s new encrypted messaging platform with cross-platform calling and vanish mode.
X has begun testing its new standalone messaging app, XChat, as part of a limited beta release, according to reverse engineer Nima Owji, with confirmation from Elon Musk. The platform is being positioned as a more secure and advanced alternative to the standard direct messaging feature currently available on X (formerly Twitter).
Unlike the existing DM tool — which predates Musk’s acquisition — XChat introduces several privacy-focused and productivity-enhancing features:
- End-to-end encrypted messaging
- Group chats
- File sharing
- Vanish mode, which automatically deletes messages after they are read (similar to Telegram’s secret chats)
One of the app’s most notable innovations is cross-platform calling without a phone number. Musk explained that the feature is built in Rust and uses Bitcoin-style encryption to ensure security and privacy.
X had previously paused work on encrypted DMs within the existing app, a move now seen as a precursor to the XChat rollout. The company has not yet disclosed when XChat will be widely available, but further expansion is expected following the beta phase.
The launch of XChat is part of Musk’s broader vision to turn X into an “everything app”, incorporating communication, payments, content, and more into a single platform.
