Admiral Samuel Paparo, head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), has revealed that the U.S. military is running a live Bitcoin node. Speaking to congressional panels, Paparo stated the node is used for cybersecurity testing and that the military views the Bitcoin protocol as a tool for national power projection, particularly in its strategic competition with China.
This marks the first public confirmation by a sitting U.S. combatant commander of direct military participation in the Bitcoin peer-to-peer network. Paparo explained that INDOPACOM is using the node for monitoring and operational tests to secure and protect networks. A Bitcoin node independently verifies network transactions and rules without relying on third parties, a function distinct from mining.
The operation of a U.S. military node is significant given Bitcoin's design as a defense against governmental control. INDOPACOM, responsible for U.S. military operations in the Indo-Pacific, sees potential in this technology within the context of global strategic competition.