Signal for Bitcoin: Why Jack Dorsey wants to change leading privacy messenger

​The crypto community has its main digital asset — Bitcoin. It also has its own social network — Nostr. But it lacks one essential piece — a messenger. Jack Dorsey, Peter Todd, and other Bitcoin enthusiasts want to fix that by proposing that Signal take on the role of the community’s private communication hub.

Bitcoin for Signal

A campaign called “Bitcoin for Signal” has gained traction on social media platform X. Its main initiators — Twitter founder Jack Dorsey and Bitcoin developer Peter Todd — have proposed integrating Bitcoin into the Signal messenger through the Cashu protocol to enable truly private in-app payments. According to them, many in the Bitcoin community believe that Bitcoin belongs in Signal — a messenger that has long symbolized privacy and digital independence.

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Dorsey believes that combining Signal with Cashu could become a natural evolution for Bitcoin — a move from being a store of value to enabling real, private peer-to-peer transactions. Today, Signal has around 70 million active users, is fully open source, and uses end-to-end encryption by default, making it one of the most trusted privacy-focused messengers in the world.

This idea isn’t entirely new. Back in 2021, Signal attempted to integrate cryptocurrency payments via MobileCoin, but the project faced criticism for excessive centralization, limited accessibility, and low liquidity. The Bitcoin for Signal campaign aims to replace that system with a more decentralized and transparent alternative.

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How Cashu works

At the heart of the initiative lies the Cashu protocol, which uses Chaumian Ecash technology — digital tokens issued anonymously through a cryptographic system of so-called blind signatures. Invented in the 1980s by cryptographer David Chaum, this mechanism allows transactions to occur without revealing users’ identities: a server mints tokens without knowing who owns them. As a result, neither the operator nor outside observers can trace who sent money to whom — unlike traditional blockchain transactions.

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Cashu applies this model to Bitcoin, creating a layer that lets users send and receive private payments without recording each transaction on the blockchain. Instead, the system uses Bitcoin-backed tokens that can circulate within the ecosystem without leaving a digital trail.

Political context

The Bitcoin for Signal campaign has emerged amid mounting pressure on digital privacy. In the European Union, lawmakers are debating a controversial proposal known as Chat Control, which would require messaging apps — including Signal and WhatsApp — to hand over private user messages to authorities under the guise of combating illegal content. In practice, this would undermine end-to-end encryption and open the door to mass surveillance of private communications.

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Human rights groups and several EU countries, most notably Germany, have opposed the proposal, calling it unconstitutional and incompatible with fundamental civil liberties. Against this backdrop, Bitcoin for Signal is seen not just as a technological initiative but also as a political statement — a move to defend digital freedom and resist government overreach.

Breakthrough or dead end?

If realized, the integration could turn Signal into the world’s largest platform for peer-to-peer Bitcoin transactions. It would be a breakthrough not only for the messenger but for the entire Bitcoin ecosystem: for the first time, the cryptocurrency would gain a native use case within an app used by tens of millions of people. For many, this could mark the shift from Bitcoin as a store of value to Bitcoin as an everyday payment tool.

The potential economic and reputational impact would be enormous — such integration would strengthen Bitcoin’s image as the universal currency of the digital age. However, challenges remain. Cashu’s scalability has yet to be tested at mass-market levels. There’s also the risk of regulatory pressure, especially in countries where cryptocurrency transactions face strict oversight. Furthermore, App Store and Google Play could impose restrictions if they deem private crypto payments to violate their policies. The project’s success will depend not only on community enthusiasm but also on the world’s readiness to accept a new level of digital freedom.

Between freedom and control

Bitcoin and Signal are two symbols of digital sovereignty, both built on the ideals of decentralization and the right to personal privacy online. Their potential union feels natural — yet it challenges the very foundations of the current system. Integrating private payments into a secure messenger could upend the balance between individual autonomy and state control over communication and finance.

“Bitcoin for Signal” is more than a tech proposal — it’s a manifesto against the culture of total transparency pursued by governments and corporations alike. But can it survive in a world where privacy itself is increasingly branded as a security threat? The question remains: will this initiative become a real step toward digital freedom — or remain an idealistic dream that the system simply won’t allow to exist?