In a House Armed Services Committee hearing on April 30, 2026, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth voiced strong support for Bitcoin, calling it a “tool to project power.” His remarks came during discussions on countering digital strategies from China and Russia.
This follows disclosures by Admiral Samuel Paparo Jr. that the US Indo-Pacific Command operates a Bitcoin node for cybersecurity testing. Hegseth’s endorsement signals growing interest in integrating cryptocurrency into national security frameworks amid strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific region.
Market reactions remain muted in the short term. On Polymarket, the probability of Bitcoin reaching $200,000 by year-end 2026 holds steady at 4%, while odds of Bitcoin trading above $66,000 on May 4 are near certain at 99.9%.