Is the military starting to run Bitcoin nodes? BTC is moving into the realm of “national security-level applications.” Admiral Samuel Paparo, commander of the Indo-Pacific Command, said at a congressional hearing that the U.S. military is operating Bitcoin nodes, but not for mining; instead, they are used for network monitoring and security testing. He noted that, from the military’s perspective, Bitcoin is more like a cryptography and blockchain tool—one that can be used to verify network security mechanisms and to support system defense as a technical means. He also said that Bitcoin-related technologies have been incorporated into research at the national security level, and that they are indirectly linked to the strategic goal of maintaining the dollar’s global standing. This means Bitcoin is moving from a financial asset to being part of discussions about “infrastructure and security tools.” When technology is integrated into a security system, its significance is no longer just a story about price.