Berty - Privacy-First P2P Messenger

Open-source, privacy-focused peer-to-peer messaging application enabling secure communication even without internet connectivity.

Overview

• Organization: Berty Technologies (French nonprofit)
• GitHub: github.com/berty/berty
• Vision: “Contributing to a world where free and secure communications are common”
• Status: Beta - not yet recommended for sensitive data

Core Features

• No Internet Required: Works offline using Bluetooth and local networks
• Privacy by Design: No phone number or email required
• Censorship Resistant: Decentralized architecture prevents blocking
• Zero Metadata: Minimal information exposure
• End-to-End Encrypted: With perfect forward secrecy

Technical Stack

• Protocol Layer: p/berty/weshnet|Weshnet - the underlying mesh network protocol
• Frontend: React Native for mobile apps
• Backend: Go implementation
• Networking: libp2p for peer-to-peer communication
• Storage: IPFS for distributed content
• Database: OrbitDB for distributed message ordering

Use Cases

• High-risk communications in censorship regions
• Disaster scenarios with failed infrastructure
• Privacy-critical applications
• Offline messaging in remote areas

Security Model

• Regular rotation of peer IDs
• Rotating rendezvous points
• Zero-trust communication
• Group-based encryption

Development Philosophy

Berty represents the user-facing application built on Weshnet protocol, focusing on creating the best possible UX for secure, private messaging that works everywhere.

Sources

• GitHub: https://github.com/berty/berty - Main repository
• Website: https://berty.tech - Official project website

See also

• p/berty/weshnet