Jason Lowery, a member of the United States Space Force, has called for a formal investigation into the use of proof-of-work (PoW) networks, such as Bitcoin, as a means to bolster the United States’ defense against cyber warfare. In a detailed four-page letter to the U.S. Defense Innovation Board on December 2, Lowery highlighted the potential of Bitcoin beyond its conventional role as a monetary system, suggesting it could be used to secure various forms of data, messages, or command signals.
The Defense Innovation Board, an independent advisory group aimed at integrating Silicon Valley’s technological innovations and best practices into the U.S. Military, was urged by Lowery to recommend that the Secretary of Defense explore the strategic importance of PoW systems like Bitcoin.
Lowery argued that a PoW system, exemplified by Bitcoin, could deter cyberattacks due to the high physical resource costs associated with such a network, mirroring the deterrence strategies used in traditional military domains. He emphasized that Bitcoin’s application in cybersecurity could be crucial for the U.S. to maintain its global leadership, especially in a world increasingly vulnerable to digital threats.
He also proposed that embracing Bitcoin’s technology could spark a “cybersecurity revolution,” transforming the global electric power grid into a vast, resource-intensive computer to constrain malicious cyber activities.
Lowery expressed concern that the U.S. Department of Defense might be losing valuable time by not incorporating Bitcoin into its cybersecurity strategy. He has previously proposed a cybersecurity tool based on the Bitcoin base layer while at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), aiming to transform national security.
In a related context, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, in a separate discussion on X (formerly Twitter), posited that Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies could be instrumental in sustaining the dominance of the U.S. dollar. Armstrong suggested that cryptocurrencies could act as a complementary system to the dollar, rather than replacing it, thereby extending the influence of Western civilization.
He argued that cryptocurrencies offer an alternative to traditional fiat currencies in the event of the U.S. dollar’s decline, potentially serving as a hedge against inflation. Armstrong emphasized the significance of U.S. dollar-backed stablecoins like USD Coin (USDC) and the development of flat coins in bridging the gap between traditional and digital currencies, thereby reinforcing the global financial system.
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