decentralized technology Archives

AppWizard

July 18, 2025

Crypto Messaging App Ephemera Bags $20M Series B at $300M Valuation

Ephemera, a blockchain-based messaging platform, secured million in a Series B funding round, co-led by Union Square Ventures, A16z Crypto, and Lightspeed Faction, achieving a valuation of 0 million. The round included participation from Coinbase, Sound Ventures, and actor Ashton Kutcher. The funding was structured as equity with token warrants, and Fred Wilson from Union Square Ventures joined Ephemera’s board. The platform is developed by the creators of XMTP, a decentralized messaging network utilizing IETF-standard Messaging Layer Security, which is trusted by companies like Mozilla, Google, Wire, and Cisco. XMTP aims to allow users to transfer conversations between different messaging apps, addressing concerns about centralization and user ownership of messages.

AppWizard

July 11, 2025

Jack Dorsey launches Bitchat, a secure messaging app that doesn’t use the internet

Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter, Bluesky, and Square, has introduced a private messaging application called Bitchat, which operates independently of traditional internet or cellular networks. Bitchat utilizes decentralized Bluetooth technology and end-to-end encryption for secure communication. It is based on Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) mesh networks, extending the typical Bluetooth range from 100 meters to 300 meters. Developed with the help of an AI coding companion named Goose, Bitchat is described as a "weekend project." The app aims to provide resilient and private communication, but critics have raised security concerns about its authentication system. Dorsey has issued a disclaimer stating that Bitchat is a "work in progress" and has not undergone external security review, warning users against relying on its security until it is evaluated.