So certainly everybody's heard the sound bites or read about the American admiral, the one who was talking about how the military is now running a node and talking a lot of the Jason Lowery type thesis when it comes to "power projection". While acknowledging Bitcoin's financial aspects, the admiral suggests the military's interest lies elsewhere... in how this technology could benefit a nation strategically.
What on earth could that be?
Well, I think we can compare it to something that's not on Earth, and that is GPS. Like the internet itself, GPS was designed and deployed by the US military. And the entire world "benefits" from it. (and, well, there are certainly surveillance and privacy implications, and this topic could go on for hours on multiple tangents.)
The Admiral keeps rattling off: Cryptography, Blockchain (as a immutable ledger) and Reusable Proof of Work. He recognizes that the Bitcoin network provides an unforgeable verification method for communications.
Being nearly impossible to change, the data in the blockchain can be reliably shown to solve an ancient Math(s) Problem!
The Byzantine generals’ problem. Remember that one?
While modern technology has reduced some validation needs in communications, it has simultaneously created tools that compromise security. The problem still exists... well it DID.
GPS illustrates this dual-use pattern: civilians use it to navigate to restaurants, while the military uses its more precise version to guide weapons. Similarly, Bitcoin allows society to securely transfer value, while the military can use it to transmit and verify any message through transaction hashes or other methods. I suppose they would be FOR the larger OP_RETURN? Lol.
Securing this network requires participants to dedicate substantial computing power... either to maintain its integrity or potentially compromise it (though game theory makes the latter extremely costly and low benefit). This creates incentives for abundant, clean energy production while delivering an unhackable communications system and immutable value storage.
Downstream of this, I have some serious questions. For example... Are we TRULY to believe this was NOT developed by the CIA/NSA? Internet... Bang. Location... Bang. Truth... oh shoot... we forgot that one. Lucky some fella with the initials N.S.(a) handled it for us.
But my friends here in 2026 (and those of you reading this in the future), Nothing stops THIS *train! Not clear about all the destinations.
CCMF
* hatip
@Lyn Alden