Over 48,000 Nepalese have downloaded Jack Dorsey's peer-to-peer messaging app, bitchat, amid violent protests against government corruption and a temporary social media ban. The app's downloads in Nepal surged from 3,344 to 48,781 within days, surpassing Indonesia's recent spike during similar protests. The social media ban, which blocked platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp, led to Gen Z-led protests, resulting in 19 deaths and the resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. The rise in bitchat downloads highlights a trend of citizens turning to decentralized, encrypted messaging apps to evade government surveillance. This comes as the European Union considers a "Chat Control" law that could mandate message screening on encrypted platforms. Despite the growing interest, decentralized apps like bitchat still face challenges in competing with established giants like Meta, which boasts 3.48 billion daily users.