Bitchat's Bluetooth system remains robust while hurricanes severely damage Jamaica's infrastructure

Bitchat, a decentralized messaging platform, has rapidly climbed to become Jamaica’s second most downloaded app as Hurricane Melissa, a Category 4 storm, devastates the Caribbean with winds reaching 185 mph, severely damaging internet services and forcing many to flee their homes. Utilizing Bluetooth mesh technology for secure, offline messaging, the app has become indispensable for Jamaicans trying to communicate during widespread blackouts and severe flooding, according to a

. On both the Apple App Store and Google Play, Bitchat is now ranked just behind Zoom Earth, a weather tracking service, highlighting the urgent need for both storm updates and reliable communication, Cointelegraph noted.

This spike in downloads comes as Hurricane Melissa continues its destructive path, having claimed over 30 lives in the region—including at least 23 in Haiti—and demolished numerous homes and businesses, Cointelegraph reported. The National Hurricane Center stated that the storm remained at Category 4 intensity as it neared Jamaica, with meteorologists warning of “catastrophic” flash floods and landslides, according to an

. Meanwhile, the Trump administration referenced Melissa as a reason to suspend federal food aid payments starting November 1, citing the urgent need for disaster relief funding, an indicated.

Bitchat’s popularity in Jamaica reflects similar patterns seen during emergencies elsewhere. In September, the app experienced a surge in Nepal following a government ban on social media and widespread protests, and comparable increases were observed in Indonesia and Madagascar during network outages, Cointelegraph reported. The decentralized nature of the app, which avoids centralized servers and government controls, has long attracted privacy-focused users. Now, its effectiveness in disaster scenarios is broadening its user base. “Bitchat has become a vital resource,” a Kingston resident shared, explaining that the app’s encrypted, peer-to-peer system enables coordination of rescue operations and sharing of live updates without depending on unstable telecom networks, according to Cointelegraph.

The hurricane has also exposed weaknesses in global disaster response systems. In Cuba, where Melissa first made landfall, authorities reported extensive destruction, while Haiti’s already vulnerable infrastructure suffered further setbacks, according to a

. The European Union’s ongoing debate over the “Chat Control” legislation—which aims to ban encrypted messaging—has faced pushback from privacy advocates, who point to Bitchat’s role in emergencies as a strong argument against the proposal. Germany’s recent objections, citing constitutional issues with scanning private messages, have postponed the law’s consideration until December, according to observers.

As Jamaica prepares for Hurricane Melissa’s arrival, Bitchat’s unexpected surge highlights the increasing dependence on decentralized tools during crises. With 2.8 million people affected and traditional communication networks disrupted, the app’s Bluetooth-based system has shown resilience where conventional infrastructure has failed, Cointelegraph reported.