During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on April 21st and 22nd, 2026, Admiral Samuel Paparo of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) highlighted Bitcoin's potential for cybersecurity in military applications. He described Bitcoin as a “valuable computer science tool as power projection” and revealed that INDOPACOM is actively experimenting with the protocol by running a Bitcoin node. These remarks came shortly after the Islamic Republic of Iran reportedly demanded Bitcoin payments for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring the growing relevance of digital assets in geopolitical contexts.

Admiral Paparo's mention of “power projection” resonated with the work of Jason Lowery, an MIT Fellow, Special Assistant to the Commander of INDOPACOM, and author of the controversial book "Softwar: A Novel Theory on Power Projection." Lowery's extensive research, including an MIT thesis, explored Bitcoin's unique cybersecurity value and its capacity to deliver