According to the military entity, the use is for technological, non-financial purposes.
The node serves to monitor the operation of the protocol and evaluate mechanisms.
A senior US military commander confirmed to Congress that the country already participates directly in the Bitcoin network, although for technical and security purposes, not financial ones.
During a hearing of the House Armed Services Committee, Admiral Samuel Paparo, head of the Indo-Pacific Command, explained that the government operates a Bitcoin node within the system, used exclusively for observation and operational testing.
Our interest in Bitcoin lies in its usefulness as a cryptography tool, in its blockchain technology, and in reusable proof-of-work as an additional resource for securing networks and projecting power. I think this protocol is here to stay. I believe that its foundation in computing has direct implications for power projection, not from a financial point of view, but from computer science and network protection.
Admiral Samuel Paparo
No cryptocurrency accumulation
The officer made it clear that This participation does not imply mining activities or accumulation of cryptocurrencies. As detailed, the node serves to monitor the operation of the protocol and evaluate mechanisms that allow strengthening the protection of networks that depend on this technology.
Paparo stressed that, for the Armed Forces, the value of Bitcoin lies mainly in its usefulness as a technological and cryptographic tool, rather than as a reserve asset, as we reported in CriptoNoticias.
The statements come amid discussions in Washington about the possibility of consolidating a strategic reserve of Bitcoin, in a context of technological competition with China. Asked about this scenario, The admiral insisted that military interest is not focused on the accumulation of bitcoin, but in the use of its properties to reinforce national security.
After his intervention, the executive director of Satoshi Action Fund, Dennis Porter, He interpreted the admiral’s words as a recognition of Bitcoin’s potential in cyber deterrence tasks through a x post. In his opinion, the effective use of this tool would also require maintaining access to the asset and infrastructure that supports the network.
Porter also warned about the importance of developing national capabilities in the manufacturing of mining equipment, considering that dependence on foreign hardware (especially from China) could limit competitiveness and security in this technological race. In his analysis, control of computing power (hashrate) is a key factor in the global dispute for leadership in the Bitcoin ecosystem.