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The U.S. government is operating a Bitcoin node to test the cryptocurrency’s potential for cybersecurity, Admiral Samuel Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, told the House Armed Services Committee.
Paparo said the military is not mining Bitcoin. Instead, it is using a node for network monitoring and security-related operational tests, describing the effort as technical experimentation rather than financial participation.
“We have a node on the Bitcoin network right now,” Paparo said. He emphasized that the government’s involvement is focused on monitoring activity and running operational tests, not on extracting value through mining.
Paparo characterized the military’s interest in Bitcoin in terms of cryptography and blockchain functionality. He described Bitcoin as “a tool of cryptography, a blockchain, and a reusable proof-of-work,” adding that it could be used “as an additional tool to secure networks, and to project power.”
He also drew a distinction between investment and application, stating: “From the military application standpoint, my interest in Bitcoin is as a computer science tool.”
The testimony noted that Bitcoin’s node network spans tens of thousands of locations globally. Paparo’s remarks indicated that decentralization prevents any single party from controlling the network or influencing transaction validation.
In that context, the government’s single node was presented as posing no structural threat to Bitcoin’s independence.
In the same hearing, Paparo also addressed broader cryptocurrency policy, including the strategic importance of maintaining U.S. dollar dominance globally.
He pointed to stablecoin legislation as a step toward that objective and referenced the GENIUS Act, signed by President Donald Trump last summer. Paparo said the law legalizes the issuance of stablecoins—cryptocurrencies pegged to the U.S. dollar—and called it “a great step forward that moves us in that direction.”
Overall, Paparo’s comments positioned the military’s engagement with Bitcoin as pragmatic and functionality-driven. The approach treats Bitcoin’s protocol as a potential source of security layers for existing systems, rather than as a rival to traditional finance or an asset to accumulate.
While Paparo confirmed direct government participation in the Bitcoin network, the military has not disclosed additional specifics about the operational tests underway.
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