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The U.S. government is operating a Bitcoin node as part of a cybersecurity test, according to Admiral Samuel Paparo, commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific, who said the effort is focused on network protection rather than mining.
Paparo told lawmakers that the work remains in an experimental stage and is aimed at studying Bitcoin’s defense applications. Speaking to the House Armed Services Committee, he said, “We have a node on the Bitcoin network right now.”
He emphasized that the project does not involve producing or accumulating Bitcoin. “We’re not mining Bitcoin,” Paparo said, describing the node as being used for monitoring and testing purposes.
Paparo framed Bitcoin as a technical tool grounded in cryptography and blockchain design, including “reusable proof-of-work,” which he said could help strengthen digital defenses. He described the current effort as part of broader operational tests related to securing and protecting networks.
Bitcoin nodes, he noted, help support the network by validating and sharing blockchain data across a decentralized system. Paparo’s remarks also indicated that a single government-operated node does not control Bitcoin or alter how the network functions.
Paparo’s comments also connected the cybersecurity discussion to wider U.S. strategy for digital assets. While discussing Bitcoin’s technical role, he said the global strength of the U.S. dollar remains an important national interest.
He pointed to the GENIUS Act, signed last year, as a step supporting the legal issuance of dollar-pegged stablecoins in the United States. Paparo said the measure advances policy as the country considers digital finance alongside security.
Overall, Paparo’s remarks positioned Bitcoin as a network and cryptography tool under experimentation for defense and cybersecurity use cases, while stablecoins were discussed through a monetary and policy lens.
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