Some X users started noticing something new last week. Their DMs looked different — cleaner, snappier, maybe even more secure. Now, Elon Musk has made it official: XChat, a reimagined messaging tool built into the X platform, is here. For now, it’s available to Premium subscribers, with a broader rollout expected soon — that is, unless server loads choke the momentum.
The update isn’t just about chatting. Musk sees XChat as a stepping stone to something much bigger. This isn’t just a messaging app — it’s a foundation, potentially, for a future where people send money, shop, make calls, and maybe even run their entire financial lives through X.
Encryption, Vanishing Chats, and Voice Calls — Without a Phone Number
Let’s talk features. The new XChat looks like a total overhaul under the hood. It’s been rebuilt with an entirely new backend, and Musk claims it’s built on Rust — a programming language known for speed and safety — along with what he describes as “Bitcoin style encryption.” That phrase raised some eyebrows.
Bitcoin isn’t really encrypted. All transactions are public, by design. So the comparison is, well, strange.
Still, there’s no denying the update brings real changes:
-
End-to-end encryption is now on by default.
-
Messages can disappear after a set time.
-
File attachments are supported — finally.
-
Audio and video calls no longer require a phone number.
It’s a decent list. For longtime users, this finally makes X DMs feel like a modern tool rather than a forgotten feature buried in the app’s sidebar.
A Glimpse at the All-In-One Super App Musk Keeps Teasing
Here’s where things get more interesting. This isn’t just about chatting with your friends. Musk is playing the long game. XChat may soon become part of something much broader — his so-called “everything app” vision.
That idea is heavily inspired by China’s WeChat — a platform where messaging, banking, e-commerce, social media, and more all live under one roof. But attempts to recreate that magic in the West have mostly flopped.
Facebook tried with Messenger. Snapchat played around with payments. Even Apple took a swing with iMessage apps. None have taken off quite like WeChat did in China. Why?
Some say it’s cultural. Others point to privacy concerns. But for whatever reason, people in the US and Europe haven’t been too eager to mix social chatting with serious financial stuff in one place.
That said, Musk isn’t new to this. His history with X.com — the online banking venture that morphed into PayPal — means he’s not just throwing ideas at the wall.
This time, he might be building the infrastructure first, then layering services on top. Messaging today. Money tomorrow?
Could XChat Become the Backbone of X Payments?
It’s not official yet, but signs point to XChat becoming deeply tied to Musk’s upcoming X Payments rollout. Musk has hinted that his ultimate goal is to make X accounts capable of storing money, sending payments, and even replacing traditional bank accounts.
And let’s be honest: if you’re planning to move money between users, you need secure messaging infrastructure in place. You need encryption. You need private, real-time communication. You need something like XChat.
Take a look at the roadmap some analysts are speculating about:
Feature | Current Status | Future Integration Possibility |
---|---|---|
Encrypted Messaging | Rolling out | Messaging + Transactions |
File Attachments | Active | Send invoices or receipts |
Video/Audio Calls | Rolling out | Virtual support or commerce |
Disappearing Messages | Active | Temporary authorization chats |
Phone-Free Calling | Live | Verified ID layer (TBD) |
Some of this may be wishful thinking. But the pattern is there. It’s hard to miss.
Still a Small Pond — With Bigger Fish Swimming Elsewhere
There’s one big question looming over all of this. Will people actually use it?
X doesn’t have the user base it once had. Third-party trackers suggest active users are down significantly since Musk took over. Advertisers have pulled back. The daily buzz has dulled.
Even if XChat becomes objectively better than Telegram, Signal, or WhatsApp, the reality is: network effects matter. People use the app where their friends are. And many of those friends have long since stopped checking their X notifications.
And while Musk’s vision might be bold, it’s got a lot of obstacles ahead — scaling challenges, legal scrutiny around encrypted financial messaging, trust issues with user data, and the basic problem of getting people to try something new on a platform they’ve kinda given up on.
One Step Closer, But Still Far From a WeChat Moment
There’s no denying Musk is serious about this. He’s said over and over that he wants X to become something much larger than Twitter ever was. The messaging revamp is another brick in that wall.
But a platform isn’t built on bricks alone. It needs people, purpose, and a reason to return every day.
That hasn’t happened yet. But here’s what’s changed: now there’s a backend in place. A messaging tool that can actually handle sensitive data. A system that — maybe — can grow into something useful for commerce, customer service, or peer-to-peer payments.