Part of Musk’s broader vision to make X the Western equivalent of WeChat.
Elon Musk has unveiled XChat, a new private messaging feature on X (formerly Twitter), as part of his ambitious plan to transform the platform into a full-fledged “everything app.” The launch moves X closer to becoming the Western counterpart to China’s WeChat, integrating messaging, media, payments, and even dating.
XChat offers end-to-end encryption, vanishing messages, file sharing, and voice/video calling, positioning it as a direct competitor to WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal. Musk announced the rollout via a post on X, describing the feature as “all new” and built with Rust and Bitcoin-style encryption-though technical specifics remain limited.
“All new XChat is rolling out with encryption, vanishing messages and the ability to send any kind of file. Also, audio/video calling. This is built on Rust with (Bitcoin style) encryption, whole new architecture.”
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk), June 1, 2025
Currently in beta, XChat is available to select premium subscribers. According to app researcher Nima Owji, features include group chats, vanish mode, and a passcode lock for added security-indicating a full revamp of X’s former DM system.
This move is part of Musk’s long-term vision to turn X into a digital hub for everything—from communication and content to banking and dating. He previously announced plans for X to offer such services by 2024.
Musk isn’t alone in this race. OpenAI’s Sam Altman is developing a similar ecosystem through his project World, which includes an app store and biometric ID system, Orbs.
However, with an estimated 600 million monthly users as of late 2024, X holds a considerable head start. With XChat, Musk aims to integrate secure, seamless communication into users’ everyday digital routines.
