Surge in Bitchat Downloads Amid Protests in Madagascar
The decentralized messaging platform Bitchat, created by Block’s CEO Jack Dorsey, has recently experienced a significant increase in its download numbers in Madagascar, coinciding with widespread protests in the country. This surge mirrors similar spikes in download activity noted in other regions like Nepal and Indonesia during periods of civil unrest earlier in September.
A Bitcoin developer who operates under the Twitter handle @callebtc reported on social media that downloads of Bitchat were “spiking in Madagascar,” sharing visual evidence of the related news coverage of the protests.
Rising Interest and Download Statistics
According to Google Trends, the interest in searching for “Bitchat” within Madagascar soared from a baseline score of zero to a perfect score of 100 on Friday, indicating peak interest in the app in the last 90 days, particularly in the capital city of Antananarivo. While specific download figures were not disclosed, general analytics show that the Bitchat application has been downloaded a total of 365,307 times, with over 21,000 new downloads reported in just one day and more than 71,000 within the last week.
Context of Unrest in Madagascar
The unrest in Madagascar began on Thursday in Antananarivo, fueled by frustrations over ongoing cuts to electricity and water services. Protesters clashed with law enforcement, leading to reports of looting and prompting the dismissal of the energy minister. To curb the violence, authorities implemented a curfew from dusk till dawn, but demonstrations continued throughout the weekend.
This situation follows a pattern seen in other developing nations, where restricted communication options during protests have driven users to decentralized platforms like Bitchat. In Nepal, a similar spike in downloads occurred amid anti-corruption demonstrations that led to brief limitations on social media access. Likewise, Indonesia has witnessed increased app activity in response to corruption-fueled unrest.
Challenges and Opportunities for Decentralized Communication
In the context of Madagascar’s socio-economic challenges, it is particularly noteworthy that only 6.6 million of its nearly 32 million residents had internet access as of early 2025, according to DataReportal. Although there are over 18 million mobile connections recorded, many of these might not provide internet access. Bitchat launched its beta version in July, designed for encrypted, offline communication using Bluetooth mesh networks, thereby circumventing the need for a central server or conventional account requirements, promoting user privacy.
Moreover, similar encrypted messaging platforms are facing scrutiny in Europe due to the proposed “Chat Control” law aimed at monitoring private messaging services, which could drive users towards more secure, decentralized communication solutions. Experts in the crypto field suggest that such regulatory challenges may further fuel the growth of platforms that prioritize user privacy and decentralization.
