Elon Musk has taken another step toward transforming X (formerly Twitter) into a one-stop digital ecosystem with the launch of XChat, a private messaging feature introduced over the weekend. Musk, who has long expressed his intention to build an "everything app" similar to China’s WeChat, announced the rollout of XChat as part of his broader vision to bring together communication, content, payments, and even dating on a single platform.
Musk announced the new feature in a Sunday post on X, touting XChat as an “all-new” direct messaging experience. The update includes end-to-end encryption, disappearing messages, voice and video calling, and file sharing — all built on what Musk calls a "whole new architecture."
Though he described the encryption as “Bitcoin style,” no specific technical details were released. However, the platform is clearly positioning XChat as a direct rival to WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal, aiming to redefine private communication for X’s user base.
According to a TechCrunch report, XChat is currently available in beta mode to select paid subscribers. App researcher Nima Owji shared screenshots revealing several notable upgrades: vanish mode for disappearing chats, advanced group messaging, and a four-digit passcode option for added security. These features suggest a significant overhaul from the existing direct messaging tool on X.
Musk’s long-term ambition is to turn X into the Western counterpart to WeChat, integrating messaging, content, shopping, banking, and dating in a single app. In a 2023 companywide meeting, Musk stated that by 2024 he wanted X to function as both a digital bank and a dating platform. The introduction of XChat aligns with that goal, laying the foundation for deeper user engagement and broader platform utility.
While Musk leads the race with X’s vast reach, he is not alone. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is developing a similar concept through his project World, which recently launched an app store and biometric-verification technology called Orbs. These developments hint at a growing competition among tech giants to dominate the super app space.
However, X currently enjoys a strong head start. As of October 2024, the platform boasted 600 million monthly active users, giving Musk a sizable audience to introduce and refine new features.
With XChat, Musk is banking on privacy tools and communication richness to keep users engaged beyond just news and public conversations. As X shifts further from its microblogging origins, the challenge lies in ensuring that users adopt and integrate these features into their daily routines.
If successful, XChat could serve as a crucial pillar in turning X into a daily-use utility — not just a social network, but a core app for messaging, transactions, and lifestyle.