The United States government is operating a Bitcoin network node as part of cybersecurity testing, according to a senior military official speaking before Congress.
Samuel Paparo, commander of US forces in the Pacific, said the military is using the node to explore how blockchain technology can help secure and protect networks.
“We’re not mining Bitcoin,”
Said Paparo.
“We’re using it to monitor, and we’re doing a number of operational tests to secure and protect networks using the Bitcoin protocol.”
He described the initiative as part of an experimental phase, emphasising that the military views Bitcoin primarily as a cryptographic and computer science tool rather than a financial asset.
Paparo added that the decentralised structure of the Bitcoin network makes it a valuable model for resilient infrastructure, with thousands of independent nodes maintaining its integrity globally.
The admiral also pointed to the GENIUS Act, signed into law in 2025, as a positive step in reinforcing the global role of the US dollar through regulated stablecoins.
He said supporting dollar dominance remains a strategic priority, with blockchain technologies increasingly seen as part of that broader financial and security framework.
At the time of reporting, Bitcoin price was $78,220.85.