U.S. Military Runs Bitcoin Node for Network Security Tests
During House Armed Services Committee testimony, Admiral Samuel Paparo revealed the U.S. military uses a Bitcoin node to monitor the network and test operational security protocols.
Key Takeaway
U.S. military treats Bitcoin as a cryptography tool for network security, not a financial asset.
Admiral Samuel Paparo, Commander of U.S. Forces in the Pacific, confirmed the U.S. military runs a Bitcoin node during testimony before the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday.
Paparo told lawmakers the military is using the node to monitor the network and test operational security. The military's interest in Bitcoin is purely as a computer science tool—focused on its cryptography, blockchain, and proof-of-work mechanisms to secure networks and project power. He made clear the government isn't mining Bitcoin.
The military is conducting multiple operational tests using the Bitcoin protocol to protect its networks. Paparo framed the node as an additional tool for network security rather than a financial investment.
Paparo also praised the GENIUS Act, the stablecoin regulation framework President Trump signed in summer 2025. He called it a great step forward for maintaining U.S. dollar hegemony. The Trump administration prioritized stablecoin legislation to enable U.S. Treasury-backed stablecoins to finance government debt.
The testimony marks a rare public acknowledgment of government infrastructure on the Bitcoin network, which debuted in 2009.
This article was written based on reporting from Decrypt.
