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Overview

blockmsg allows you to set a self-destruct timer on your messages. Once the timer expires, the message becomes permanently unreadable.
Perfect for sharing sensitive information that shouldn’t persist forever.

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Available Timers

TimerUse Case
5 minutesQuick codes, PINs, temporary passwords
1 hourShort-term coordination, meeting links
12 hoursDay-limited sensitive info
24 hoursDaily updates, temporary credentials
7 daysWeekly reports, time-limited documents

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How to Send a Self-Destruct Message

1

Enable Self-Destruct

Click “Enable self-destructing messages” in the chat input area
2

Select Timer

Choose your desired expiration time from the options
3

Compose & Send

Type your message and send. The timer starts immediately!

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How It Works

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Technical Implementation

  • Expiry Timestamp: Stored on-chain with the message
  • Destruction: The contract returns empty data after expiry
  • Irreversible: Cannot be recovered once destructed
Self-destructed messages are PERMANENT. Once the timer expires, the contract returns an empty array and decryption is no longer possible. The encrypted data remains on-chain but becomes meaningless. No one, including blockmsg, can recover it.

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Visual Indicators

When you send or receive a self-destruct message:
  • 🟢 Sent messages: Show “Self-destruct message sent”
  • 🟢 Received messages: Show “Reveal before it self-destructs”
  • ⚪ Destructed messages: Show “This message self-destructed”

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Best Practices

Don't Wait

Open time-sensitive messages as soon as possible

Set Appropriate Times

Choose a timer that gives the recipient enough time to read

Confirm Receipt

Consider asking the recipient to confirm they’ve read the message

Save Externally

If you need to keep the info, save it before it destructs