Startup Germ Introduces End-to-End Direct Messages within Bluesky's Infrastructure

New Startup Germ Introduces End-to-End Encrypted Direct Messages to Bluesky

Germ, a new startup, is launching its beta service this week, aiming to gradually onboard new testers before its public release. The service, built within the Bluesky community, promises to revolutionise secure messaging within the decentralised social network.

Germ leverages advanced technologies such as Messaging Layer Security (MLS) and the AT Protocol (ATProto), which powers Bluesky. The "magic link" system used by Germ is a cryptographic key that authenticates a user's ATProto identity, ensuring secure communication from the outset.

The concept for Germ originated from co-founders Tessa Brown (CEO) and Mark Xue. Brown, a communications scholar and former Stanford instructor, emphasises the importance of secure messaging for fostering healthy social networks. Xue, a former Apple privacy engineer, sought to develop a new system that moved beyond reliance on phone numbers and traditional telephony for secure communication.

Germ's technology is designed to integrate encrypted messaging directly into Bluesky's native application. This means users can engage in secure chats with their Bluesky contacts and across the broader open social web, unlike some messaging apps that require separate installations.

During testing, the pairing feature experienced some difficulties, potentially due to the device running the iOS 26 developer beta. However, a workaround was found: initiating the chat from the App Clip before attempting authentication from the installed app.

In addition to secure messaging, Germ offers nuanced blocking options, allowing users to block another user solely within Germ or extend the block across Bluesky and other applications powered by ATProto. Users can also manage who can send them direct messages, such as accepting DMs only from those they follow on Bluesky or restricting communication to initiating chats exclusively.

Germ's technology could potentially be widely adopted by Bluesky and other platforms, establishing its technology as a standard for secure communication within decentralised social networks. The startup has secured pre-seed funding from angel investors, including a co-author of MLS and trust and safety experts. Institutional investors in Germ include K5 Global and Mozilla Ventures.

Looking forward, Germ may introduce a premium subscription model, offering advanced services such as private AI tools, personalization options, and other enhanced functionalities. The startup also plans to raise further capital to develop an Android version of the application, aiming to broaden its accessibility and reach a wider user base.

With its focus on secure messaging and integration with Bluesky, Germ is gaining attention from prominent U.S. political figures and the tech community. Brown expresses enthusiasm due to the app's increasing cultural influence. As the beta testing progresses, users can expect a more secure and private messaging experience on Bluesky.

Startup Germ Introduces End-to-End Direct Messages within Bluesky's Infrastructure