US Admiral Samuel Paparo Now Supports Bitcoin Node for INDOPACOM Security

Admiral Paparo’s Shift: From Crypto Critic to Bitcoin Advocate

Admiral Samuel Paparo, Commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee on April 21 to present the command’s posture review ahead of the fiscal year 2027 defense request. During his testimony, Paparo disclosed that INDOPACOM is now running a Bitcoin node, treating the protocol’s architecture as operationally relevant for securing networks and projecting power.

From Opaqueness to Operational Relevance

In February 2024, Paparo criticized cryptocurrency in a Senate hearing with Sen. Elizabeth Warren, stating that its “opaqueness” enabled proliferation, terrorism, and illicit trafficking. He argued that crypto “makes the world less secure” but acknowledged the potential of blockchain methodologies for financial transactions. At the time, Washington’s dominant view framed crypto as a compliance challenge, a sanctions-evasion tool, and a revenue source for adversaries like North Korea.

Today, Paparo’s perspective has evolved. He now views Bitcoin’s cryptography, blockchain accountability, and proof-of-work (PoW) as critical components of a toolkit for network security and power projection. This shift in rhetoric—from viewing crypto as a threat to leveraging its underlying technology—reflects a broader transformation in US policy.

Policy Foundations Behind the Shift

The change in approach aligns with recent White House directives and legislative actions:

• January 23, 2025: The White House declared it US policy to protect lawful access to open public blockchain networks and promote dollar-backed stablecoins globally. This directive distinguished open public blockchains as infrastructure, separating them from the broader “everything crypto is suspect” category.
• March 6, 2025: The White House established a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, designating Bitcoin as a sovereign asset—similar to gold—and prohibiting its sale.
• July 18, 2025: The GENIUS Act passed, framing stablecoin regulation as a national security instrument tied to the dollar’s reserve currency status. The act expanded regulatory oversight and linked digital asset stability to broader financial resilience.
• April 2026: The Treasury proposed rules to implement the GENIUS Act’s anti-money laundering (AML) requirements and launched a cybersecurity information-sharing initiative for digital asset firms, recognizing them as critical to the US financial sector.

INDOPACOM’s Zero Trust Architecture and Bitcoin Integration

In his April 2026 posture statement, Paparo described INDOPACOM’s mission as centered on denying China’s objectives, achieving “information and decision superiority,” and deploying a “data-centric Zero Trust Architecture Mission Partner Environment” across its partner network. The command’s resilient C5ISRT (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Targeting) systems are designed to operate through contested environments, with Bitcoin’s cryptographic framework playing a key role in securing these networks.

Influence of Jason Lowery’s ‘SoftWar’ Theory

This strategic pivot may be influenced by the work of Jason Lowery, a US Space Force service member and author of SoftWar. Lowery has argued that Bitcoin’s PoW mechanism could revolutionize national defense by deterring cyber threats. His theories suggest that Bitcoin’s computational power could reshape security paradigms, moving beyond traditional market forces to define its long-term value.

“Bitcoin’s proof-of-work mechanism can revolutionize national defense strategies by deterring cyber threats.” — Jason Lowery, SoftWar author

Broader Implications for US Security Strategy

The integration of Bitcoin into INDOPACOM’s security framework marks a significant shift in how the US views digital assets. No longer framed solely as a compliance or sanctions-evasion risk, Bitcoin is now treated as a strategic asset with cryptographic and operational benefits. This evolution reflects a growing recognition of blockchain technology’s role in securing critical infrastructure and projecting power in contested environments.