OpenChat has taken a sharp turn towards simplicity, now offering native Bitcoin support to its users. That means BTC can now be sent, received, and swapped straight through chat messages—without the usual copy-pasting fuss that’s been part and parcel of crypto for too long.
The Internet Computer Protocol (ICP)-based platform has been pushing for smooth, everyday crypto usage, and this move is a strong nudge in that direction. With BTC now fully native, users can deposit Bitcoin directly into their OpenChat wallets, skip the clunky wallet addresses, and send coins in seconds. What’s especially handy is that it all takes place within a chat thread, making crypto feel less like finance and more like texting a mate.
This isn’t a bolt-on or a roundabout workaround. BTC isn’t being wrapped, converted, or dressed up in tokens. It’s actual Bitcoin, being handled natively thanks to the unique capabilities of the Internet Computer. The integration leverages ICP’s chain-key cryptography and smart contract architecture, allowing OpenChat to interact with Bitcoin directly, without the need for bridges or third-party custodians.
What this unlocks for users is less friction and fewer fees. OpenChat says the transfer costs are much lower than what’s common in traditional BTC transactions. That’s thanks to ICP’s ability to operate with internet speed, making the whole process feel more like sending an emoji than making a financial transaction. You can chat, attach a few sats to a message, and move on with your day. It’s informal, it’s instant, and it doesn’t need a crypto dictionary to understand.
The whole wallet system is baked into the chat app, so there’s no switching screens, no fumbling with apps that don’t talk to each other, and no QR codes that never seem to scan properly. Users can deposit Bitcoin straight into their OpenChat wallet, check balances without leaving the conversation, and withdraw to any other Bitcoin wallet when needed. It’s a setup that brings a fresh layer of convenience to digital payments, especially for people who’ve always found crypto a bit too fiddly.
For the OpenChat team, this step is part of a broader effort to make decentralised messaging platforms feel ready for the mainstream. Crypto payments have long had a usability problem. While the underlying tech is sound, the front-end experience can be off-putting. OpenChat’s bet is that if you make crypto feel like normal chat behaviour, people will actually use it. And they’re not wrong—messaging is already the place where people connect, make plans, split bills, and settle up. If the money can move just as easily as the words do, adoption suddenly looks a lot more realistic.
The OpenChat interface doesn’t require technical know-how. Users won’t need to memorise addresses or worry about sending BTC to the wrong place. The chat-based payment system automatically identifies and routes the transaction within the conversation. There’s something very intuitive about paying this way—it’s a bit like using emojis to split the lunch tab, but with actual value behind the screen.
The launch also helps cement the Internet Computer’s broader push for real-world utility. While many blockchains are still focused on DeFi loops and token speculation, ICP projects have been chasing something more practical. Native BTC support in a chat app makes it easier for users to treat digital assets like normal tools—something you can use every day, not just something to hold and hope for the best. OpenChat’s update fits that approach neatly.
There’s also a privacy angle. OpenChat is built on decentralised tech, so your messages and transactions aren’t running through traditional servers. This gives users more control over their own data, which has always been one of the draws of blockchain-based communication. Add Bitcoin to the mix and you’ve got a chat app that isn’t just secure—it’s economically independent too.
Some users will use this feature to send tips. Others will use it to split costs. Some will see it as a fun way to test out crypto without leaving their comfort zone. And for those who already own Bitcoin but don’t enjoy the usual wallet gymnastics, OpenChat’s system is probably going to feel like a breath of fresh air.
It’s also worth noting the implications for creators and microtransactions. If content creators are chatting with their communities on OpenChat, it’s now trivial for fans to send small BTC tips or paywalls without reaching for another app. That opens up interesting new ways to monetise interactions—whether it’s artists selling custom emojis or communities pooling funds for collective projects.
This update isn’t just a technical flourish. It’s a signal that chat is fast becoming a serious venue for decentralised finance. We’ve seen stickers, gifs, video calls and AI bots slide into messaging apps over the years. Crypto is the next layer—and by removing the usual roadblocks, OpenChat has given BTC a genuinely native home inside everyday digital behaviour.
It also lowers the barrier for people who’ve never owned crypto. If you’re already talking to a friend on OpenChat and they send you some BTC, you don’t need to sign up for an exchange or download yet another wallet. It’s already there, in the thread, waiting to be used. That smoothness is crucial. Complexity has always been one of crypto’s worst features, and OpenChat’s design skips it entirely.
There are still some technical considerations behind the scenes. The smart contracts powering this experience rely on ICP’s integration with Bitcoin at the protocol level. It’s not something that can be easily copied by apps on other chains. That gives ICP and OpenChat a unique advantage for now—one that could be expanded to other cryptocurrencies in the future.
The idea of messaging as the centre of your digital life isn’t new, but turning that into a reliable way to move real assets hasn’t been this easy before. OpenChat’s BTC integration lands at a time when people are becoming more comfortable with digital payments, but still wary of the complexity. This step takes a lot of that edge off.
It also puts OpenChat in a strong position among the growing crop of Web3 chat apps. Many are still figuring out their identity, trying to bolt crypto features onto chat or vice versa. By treating Bitcoin as just another part of the message thread—right next to the memes and group updates—OpenChat has made something that doesn’t feel like crypto at all. And that’s probably why it’ll catch on.
BTC has always been a bit like sending a pigeon with gold coins in its claws—valuable, but not exactly user-friendly. This update makes it more like sending a voice note. Less dramatic, much easier, and surprisingly useful.
For now, OpenChat has given Bitcoin a place to chill—right between your weekend plans and your pizza emoji.
