As protests over shortages of water and electricity gained momentum in Madagascar, interest in Jack Dorsey’s decentralized messaging service Bitchat increased.
Bitchat is a peer-to-peer encrypted messenger that operates without the Internet and without central servers, making it a useful tool during protests.
Callebtc, a Bitcoin developer working on Bitchat, observed the increase on Sunday, posting screenshots on X of coverage of the protests that were occurring in the country, and said, “Bitchat downloads spiking in Madagascar.”
This increase in usage is part of a familiar pattern that we saw in September in Nepal and Indonesia when Bitchat experienced increases in usage during protests regarding corruption, along with temporary bans on conventional communication.
Google Trends Shows Spike in Searches for “Bitchat”
Although Callebtc has not provided regional download data, Google Trends shows an extraordinary spike in searches for “Bitchat” in Madagascar, especially in the capital city of Antananarivo.
Interest soared from 0 to 100, which was considered its highest anywhere on Friday, with related search terms, such as “Bitchat download” and “how to use Bitchat,” in the top five breakout topics.
Data from Chrome-Stats reveal that since its introduction, Bitchat has been downloaded 365,307 times, with over 71,000 downloads in the last week.
More than 21,000 downloads have occurred in the last 24 hours alone, but the platform was not able to determine the regions that contributed most.
Protests Over Utilities Push Citizens Toward Decentralized Communication
Last week, protests broke out in Antananarivo, Madagascar, which is where unrest began over ongoing water and power cuts.
The protests escalated by the same day and resulted in violent clashes with police, looting, and the energy minister being removed from his position.
To control the protests, authorities implemented a curfew from dusk to dawn. However, the nationwide protests continued through the weekend.
At a time of state-imposed restrictions, residents seem to be turning to decentralized apps like Bitchat in order to communicate securely and without censorship. This usage echoes patterns of other protests by similar methods in a variety of countries over the past few weeks.
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Limited Internet Access Highlights Bitchat’s Offline Advantage
Although mobile technology is becoming more widespread in Madagascar, only 6.6 million of the country’s nearly 32 million people had internet access at the beginning of 2025, according to DataReportal.
Comprising more than 18 million mobile connections, most of which support voice and SMS services, the range of reliable internet-based communication in Madagascar is still limited.
This is where Bitchat’s Bluetooth Low Energy mesh network is valuable, as it is a viable option for direct device connection without the use of an internet infrastructure.
The use of a peer-to-peer, fully encrypted system provides a much-needed alternative to privately communicate in situations where state restrictions or poor connectivity prohibit the use of traditional means of communication.
Blockchain Solutions Emerging Amid Global Protests
The rise of Bitchat during political turmoil demonstrates a growing role for decentralized technology in worldwide protest movements.
Earlier this month, the Philippines announced the launch of “Integrity Chain,” a blockchain system intended to reduce corruption by putting contracts and government budgets on-chain so citizens can see what has transpired, according to UnoCrypto.
Bitchat and its competitors, such as Integrity Chain, highlight that blockchain and decentralized communication tools can be harnessed to rebuild trust, bypass censorship, and shift power to communities.
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