Key Takeaways:
Admiral Samuel Paparo confirmed INDOPACOM runs a live Bitcoin node and is conducting operational network security tests as of April 21, 2026. Paparo’s Senate testimony marks a public U.S. military shift toward Bitcoin’s protocol architecture as a tool in great-power competition with China. Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s Bitcoin questions at the April 21 hearing signal growing Congressional interest in a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve debate. Top U.S. Pacific Commander Confirms Bitcoin Node at Senate Armed Services Hearing“It’s a valuable computer science tool as a power projection,” he said. Paparo added:
“Outside of the economic formulation of it, it has got really important computer science applications for cybersecurity.”
On INDOPACOM’s direct engagement with the network, Paparo stated:
