U.S. Indo-Pacific Commander Reveals: The U.S. Military Has Been Running a Bitcoin Node

By: Shannon@Golden Finance

On April 23, 2026, U.S. Indo-Pacific Commander Samuel Paparo appeared at a hearing of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee and admitted that the U.S. military is operating a Bitcoin node—not for mining, but to monitor the network and carry out a series of operational tests to ensure the network security of the network using the Bitcoin protocol. Paparo made the above disclosure in response to questions from U.S. Senator Lance Gooden.

Paparo also said that the U.S. military is using Bitcoin nodes to protect network security, and that its interest in Bitcoin lies in its role as a cryptographic tool, blockchain, and reusable proof-of-work mechanism, which can serve as an auxiliary means to safeguard network security and project power. He also said that Bitcoin has a direct impact on national security and supports any initiatives that help maintain the U.S. dollar’s global dominant position.

The following is the transcript of their questioning and answers:

Representative Gooden: General Paparo, you testified yesterday that Bitcoin has the potential to become a tool for national security. A recent study by the Bitcoin Policy Institute estimated that China holds about 194,000 Bitcoin and the United States holds about 328,000. In this era of digital competition, just as we maintain an edge in other strategic resources like gold and oil, is maintaining an advantage in this area aligned with our strategic interests?

General Paparo (Paparo): Sir, our focus on Bitcoin is because it serves as a cryptographic tool, blockchain technology, and a reusable proof-of-work mechanism, which can serve as a complementary means to strengthen network security and project power. Therefore, I believe this protocol will exist in the long term. Its computer science principles have direct significance for projecting power—not in a financial sense, but from a computer science perspective, for cybersecurity defense. I support these kinds of applications. All instruments of national power are important, but from a military application perspective, I view Bitcoin as a computer science tool for achieving power projection.

Representative Gooden: Thank you for your statement. I agree with your view, and I also want to hear your thoughts on future decades of monetary competition. What role can Bitcoin play in promoting digital property rights?

General Paparo (Paparo): People are already using Bitcoin to protect their digital assets today, and this is achieved by relying on the reusable proof-of-work protocol, combined with blockchain, to achieve traceability and cryptographic security. This is the role I see it playing. I believe it has direct national security significance, and I support any measures that help maintain the U.S. dollar’s global dominant position.

Representative Gooden: Thank you for your answer. Do you think we are sufficiently prepared to respond to China’s strategic layout in the digital asset space?

General Paparo (Paparo): I think the GENIUS Act, which we passed recently, is an important step toward that direction.

Representative Gooden: My final question. As we continue to develop the defense authorization bills, in the areas related to digital asset national security, what authorizations and resources does the Indo-Pacific Command need?

General Paparo (Paparo): At the moment, we are still in the testing phase, and I can be more specific. We currently have a node running on the Bitcoin network. We are not mining Bitcoin; instead, we use this node for monitoring and to carry out multiple hands-on operational tests, strengthening and protecting the network with the help of the Bitcoin protocol.