Admiral Samuel Paparo, currently leading the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), has publicly described Bitcoin as a “valuable computer science tool” for national power and security, highlighting its potential in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee. His remarks offer rare recognition of Bitcoin from a senior figure in the U.S. military establishment.
Bitcoin’s value in cyber and national defense
During the fiscal year 2027 defense authorization hearing held on April 21, 2026, Admiral Paparo responded to questions about whether Bitcoin’s technical architecture could offer the United States a strategic edge in great-power competition, especially in the Indo-Pacific region. Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville specifically pressed for Paparo’s view on whether leadership in Bitcoin could strengthen the U.S. position relative to China.
Paparo responded by characterizing Bitcoin as a “reality,” emphasizing its role as a peer-to-peer, zero-trust transfer of value that supports U.S. interests across all instruments of national power. He pointed to ongoing research at INDOPACOM examining Bitcoin’s underlying technology, including its use of cryptography, blockchain, and proof-of-work protocols. According to Paparo, these mechanisms extend beyond simple network security, holding implications for both offensive and defensive cyber operations.
He summarized Bitcoin’s benefits in terms of computer science, describing its protocols as imposing additional costs on cyber adversaries and supporting broader security objectives. This perspective marks a shift from viewing the cryptocurrency solely as a speculative financial asset.
Bitcoin shows incredible potential as a computer science tool. It’s a valuable computer science tool as a power projection.
Changing perceptions in U.S. policy and allied research
The testimony reflects a broader trend in defense and policy circles, where Bitcoin’s technical resilience is gaining attention for its ability to deter cyberattacks. Space Force Major Jason Lowery, a defense fellow at MIT, has previously argued that Bitcoin’s proof-of-work operations force would-be attackers to incur real physical and energy costs, offering protection similar to traditional military deterrents.
Senator Tuberville’s comments underlined growing competition with China, noting that the Chinese Communist Party’s principal monetary think tank had released research in 2025 on Bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset. The report, “The Case for Bitcoin as a Reserve Asset,” framed Bitcoin as transitioning from a speculative asset to a tool of economic and strategic value, indicating Beijing’s close monitoring of U.S. policy.
Recent moves in Washington reflect this strategic reassessment. On March 6, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to establish a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve seeded by BTC confiscated in government operations. Standing policy now treats these holdings as long-term economic reserves, prompting some, including policy advisor David Sacks, to dub it a “digital Fort Knox.”
Legislative moves and future discussions
Senators Tuberville and Cynthia Lummis support going further through the BITCOIN Act, introduced in March 2025, aiming to task the U.S. Treasury with acquiring one million BTC over time. The plan would scale U.S. Bitcoin reserves to levels nearing the country’s historic gold holdings.
Admiral Paparo did not fully disclose specific legislative positions during the hearing, preferring to clarify his views in writing or classified discussions. However, his comments placed Bitcoin’s value firmly in the context of national power, security, and technological strategy.
Admiral Paparo is a career U.S. Navy officer who has commanded U.S. Indo-Pacific Command since May 2024. INDOPACOM is the largest of the United States’ unified combatant commands, overseeing operations across the Asia-Pacific region and playing a key role in strategies involving emerging technologies and cyber defense.
