Overview
- Radar Chat launched on Tuesday, integrating encrypted messaging with Bitcoin transactions.
- The application employs the Signal Protocol but was created independently of Signal.
- Radar asserts that users maintain control of their Bitcoin, which is transferred through the Lightning Network.
The team behind Cake Wallet has introduced a new application that merges Bitcoin payments with private messaging.
Launched on Tuesday, Radar Chat fuses end-to-end encrypted messaging with self-custodial Bitcoin payments via the Lightning Network, enabling users to send Bitcoin through text messages without needing to switch apps or manually enter wallet addresses.
Vikrant Sharma, founder of Radar Chat and Cake Wallet, explained to Decrypt, "The concept behind Radar is that the individuals we communicate with and those we pay are frequently the same, yet messaging and payments have traditionally been kept apart."
Available for both iOS and Android, Radar—clarified as a distinct entity from Cake Wallet—utilizes Signal’s open-source protocol to facilitate encrypted messaging and Bitcoin payments within private chats, allowing users to manage their private keys independently.
Your messages. Your Bitcoin. Together, at last.
Radar merges private messaging with self-custodial Bitcoin Lightning into a single, seamless experience, leveraging Signal's robust network so that your existing contacts come along. pic.twitter.com/Rg6BBbfvGS
— Radar.Chat (@RadarChat) July 7, 2026
Sharma noted, "Instead of creating a secure messaging platform from the ground up, we opted to build on one of the most trusted privacy technologies available. Many users who value Bitcoin and privacy already depend on Signal, allowing Radar to build on a familiar base while introducing a crucial feature: integrated Bitcoin payments in conversations."
While services like PayPal, Cash App, and Venmo have made digital payments more straightforward, Sharma pointed out that users often sacrifice control for ease of use.
“Platforms like PayPal and Cash App simplify money transfers, but they are centralized,” he remarked. “They control your funds, can freeze your account, and monitor every transaction. Convenience comes at the expense of autonomy.”
Radar employs the Bitcoin Lightning Network, a layer-2 payment system designed to enhance transaction speed and reduce costs compared to using Bitcoin’s base level. Although Lightning is often associated with small transactions measured in satoshis—or 1/100,000,000 of a Bitcoin—Sharma mentioned that Radar is not restricted to microtransactions.
During the setup process, users receive a recovery seed phrase to restore their Bitcoin on another device, and an encrypted backup linked to their Signal account offers an extra recovery method.
“Radar operates independently from Signal,” he clarified, “but we have great respect for the Signal team's achievements and provide financial support to the project, as we believe privacy-focused communication is an essential public resource.”
Sharma indicated that Radar has successfully tested transactions of up to $5,000, with the transaction capacity dictated by the liquidity available on the Lightning Network instead of app-imposed limits.
“Radar is tailored for everyday transactions—like buying lunch, sharing expenses, reimbursing a friend, or sending tips,” he stated. “These are precisely the types of exchanges where Lightning excels due to their speed, low cost, and near-instant settlement.”