Bitcoin's Strategic Role in National Security and Cyberwarfare

Bitcoin’s Strategic Role in National Security and Cyberwarfare

Dec. 05, 2023. 2 mins. read.

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US Space Force Major Highlights Bitcoin’s Defense Potential Bitcoin, the leading cryptocurrency, has garnered attention not just for its financial implications but also for its potential in cybersecurity and national defense. Major Jason Lowery of the US Space Force has brought to light a new perspective on Bitcoin, emphasizing its strategic importance far beyond monetary value. In a letter to the Defense Innovation Board, he passionately advocates for the use of Bitcoin and similar Proof-of-Work (PoW) systems in defense and innovation.

Bitcoin’s Military Impact and Cybersecurity Implications Lowery underscores Bitcoin’s potential as a revolutionary tool in enhancing the resiliency and effectiveness of the US military. He suggests that Bitcoin could be a key asset in countering threats from nations like China, Russia, and Iran. His viewpoint is that Bitcoin is not only about transforming the monetary system but also about securing various forms of data, including sensitive military information.

Bitcoin as a “Macrochip” and Cyberweapon Lowery describes Bitcoin as a “macrochip,” a concept that transforms the global electrical grid into a colossal, energy-intensive computer. This strategy, he argues, brings physical costs into the digital world, offering a novel way to protect data over the internet. He envisions Bitcoin and its underlying technology as modern weapons, potentially reshaping cyberwarfare and defense.

Strategic Concerns and Adversaries’ Bitcoin Utilization The Space Force official warns that underestimating Bitcoin could be detrimental to US national security. He notes that adversaries are already exploiting Bitcoin’s capabilities: China’s dominance in Bitcoin mining, Russia’s use of Bitcoin to fund cyberwarfare, Iran’s reliance on Bitcoin for ballistic missile and nuclear projects, and North Korea’s Bitcoin thefts to finance weapons programs.

US Space Force: Recognizing Space as a Security Frontier The establishment of the US Space Force under the National Defense Authorization Act in 2019 marks a recognition of space exploration’s critical role in national security. Major Lowery’s insights on Bitcoin further accentuate the currency’s evolving role in this new era of defense and security strategy, highlighting its potential to shape the future of warfare and cybersecurity.

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SOURCE: Bitcoin Goes Cosmic: US Space Force Official Labels Crypto As Nationally Strategic (bitcoinist.com)