US Military Running Bitcoin Node for Cryptographic Security Research, Admiral Reveals

Admiral Samuel Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, revealed in May 2025 testimony before the House Armed Services Committee that the U.S. military operates a Bitcoin node for cryptographic security research and network protection testing, though not for mining cryptocurrency. The military views Bitcoin as a computer science tool focused on cryptography, blockchain, and proof-of-work capabilities for securing networks and projecting power, rather than as a financial asset worth stockpiling. Paparo emphasized that supporting U.S. dollar hegemony remains in military interests, praising the GENIUS Act signed by President Trump in summer 2024 that legalized dollar-pegged stablecoins as advancing global dollar dominance. The government remains in an experimentation phase with the Bitcoin protocol as of May 2025.

U.S. Military Operation of Bitcoin Node for Cybersecurity Research

• ▪The U.S. military is not mining Bitcoin on its Bitcoin network node.
• ▪Admiral Samuel Paparo is the commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific.
• ▪Admiral Samuel Paparo testified before the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday.
• ▪The U.S. military conducts operational tests to secure and protect networks using the Bitcoin protocol.
• ▪The U.S. government runs a node on the Bitcoin network as of May 2025.
• ▪The Bitcoin blockchain relies on tens of thousands of nodes situated around the world.

Military's Strategic Interest in Bitcoin as Cryptographic Tool

• ▪Admiral Samuel Paparo's interest in Bitcoin from a military application standpoint is as a computer science tool.
• ▪The U.S. government is in an experimentation phase with Bitcoin as of May 2025.
• ▪The American military views Bitcoin as a technological tool rather than as a financial asset worth stockpiling.

Stablecoins and U.S. Dollar Global Dominance

• ▪The GENIUS Act legalized the issuance of stablecoins in the United States.
• ▪The GENIUS Act was signed into law by President Donald Trump in summer 2024.
• ▪Admiral Samuel Paparo views the GENIUS Act as a step forward for U.S. dollar global dominance.

Perspective of Admiral Samuel Paparo and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command

• ▪U.S. Indo-Pacific Command uses Bitcoin protocol testing to explore methods for securing and protecting military networks.
• ▪Admiral Samuel Paparo views Bitcoin primarily as a computer science tool for military applications.
• ▪Admiral Samuel Paparo sees Bitcoin as a tool for projecting American military power through network security.

Perspective of U.S. dollar hegemony advocates within the military

• ▪Admiral Samuel Paparo views the GENIUS Act's legalization of dollar-pegged stablecoins as advancing U.S. dollar global dominance.
• ▪Admiral Samuel Paparo believes maintaining U.S. dollar hegemony worldwide serves American military interests.
• ▪The American military sees regulated stablecoins as compatible with rather than threatening to dollar supremacy.

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