X has released an improved interface of its DM feature with the announcement that Elon Musk- XChat will facilitate Vanishing messages encryption, and file sharing features with audio/video calls. Although there are new enhancements in messaging for the platform, there are still issues surrounding the security and implementation of these features. Currently, new features from XChat still do not work for all users. They started the rollout with a few beta testers. With no issues for scaling, Musk said that the team expects to roll out XChat to all users sometime this week. In a Series of posts on X, Musk shared that the updated version of XChat is built on Rust with “Bitcoin style” encryption and a “whole new architecture.”

However, this claim has sparked debate among security experts, since Bitcoin itself is not encrypted in the traditional sense. Instead of using encryption for private messaging, it uses digital signatures and public key cryptography for security.  As a result, some have questioned if Musk is misusing the term encryption, substituting it with cryptography, or just using it as a marketing gimmick. These questions raise concerns about XChat’s ability to successfully compete with well-known encrypted platforms with end-to-end encryption standards, such as Signal and iMessage.

Musk mentioned that XChat offers audio and video calls across all platforms without requiring users to connect a phone number, enhancing the flexibility of a broader communication tool.  Before the full public launch, X confirmed that the company has put the development of the older encrypted DM system on hold, possibly because XChat is intended to replace it. While this indicates a serious approach to improving private communications, it remains unclear how the system protects user data. To make matters worse, the platform has experienced some outages over the last week, with users reporting issues accessing timelines and other important features, including XChat. Such outages raise questions about the platform’s credibility as it ventures into addressing other high-sensitivity issues and private communication with new features.

Our Opinion: 

While Elon Musk’s vision for XChat is ambitious, especially with the promise of advanced encryption and versatile communication tools, the lack of transparency around the platform’s actual security raises serious concerns. Marketing phrases like “Bitcoin-style encryption” don’t provide the technical assurance that users expect from a secure messaging service. Until X delivers a clear explanation of its encryption standards and demonstrates platform stability, it may be difficult for users to fully trust XChat as a true alternative to trusted apps like Signal or iMessage.