US Admiral Testifies Bitcoin Aids Defense Cybersecurity

A senior U.S. military commander testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee that Bitcoin serves as a valuable cybersecurity tool with applications in national defense, highlighting its proof-of-work mechanism as a way to deter potential attackers. Admiral Samuel Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, made the remarks during a hearing on Tuesday focused on threats in the Indo-Pacific region and cyber risks from state-linked actors.

Paparo emphasized that Bitcoin's design extends beyond financial transactions to support secure systems aligned with U.S. strategic interests. "It is a valuable computer science tool, as a power projection," he said. He explained that the network's proof-of-work consensus imposes significant costs on those attempting to interfere with it, making attacks less feasible. "Outside of the economic formulation of it, it has got really important computer science applications for cybersecurity," Paparo added. His comments came in response to a question from Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., who asked how the U.S. could maintain leadership in Bitcoin-related technologies amid competition with China.

The hearing addressed broader security...