As Bitcoin finally approaches the $80,000 mark after months, US Admiral Samuel Paparo, commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command, has applauded Bitcoin.
During the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on April 21, Paparo referred to Bitcoin as a “power projection” tool for the United States.
He added:
Anything that sustains all instruments of national power for the United States of America is for the better.
Paparo even pointed out that Bitcoin has the potential to be a ‘computer science tool’, using the proof-of-work protocol to achieve more than just network security.
He then praised Bitcoin, saying that the best cryptocurrency blockchain network has “really important computer science applications for cybersecurity.”
What fear led the American admiral to say this?
Paparo’s comment follows Senator Tommy Tuberville’s questioning of US leadership in Bitcoin as a means to oppose the Chinese Communist Party.
Well, after banning crypto mining and trading in 2021, China is now stepping up its crypto game. According to data from BitcoinTraesuires.NET, China’s Bitcoin [BTC] on April 22, 2026, its assets amounted to 190,000 BTC worth $14.88 billion.
This is because the crypto market stood strong against the traditional market during the war between Iran and the US.
Additionally, an earlier report from AMBCrypto further highlighted that Bitcoin has held strong against gold and S&P 500 stocks in “7 out of 7” crises.
The rise of crypto fraud adds another layer of fear
By allowing cryptocurrency tolls on ships sailing through the Strait of Hormuz, Iran went even further and strengthened Bitcoin as a safeguard against censorship.
However, this widespread use also led to fraudsters posing as Iranian authorities and sending false messages to shipping companies.
According to MARISKSthe scammers asked for cryptocurrency payments to guarantee the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz to the hundreds of ships stranded in the Gulf.
Furthermore, North Korea’s Lazarus Group has emerged as a major player in the rise of scams and crimes in the cryptocurrency space. In April 2026 alone, they were able to make more than $600 million from various exploits.
Therefore, it becomes crucial to secure digital assets as the US has the largest Bitcoin reserves and the largest share of the hashrate.
Measures the US has taken to stand out
However, with the ‘Mined in America Act’, put forward by US lawmakers Cynthia Lummis and Bill Cassidy, the US has already taken steps to boost domestic cryptocurrency mining while reducing dependence on foreign supply chains.
Additionally, the U.S. Department of the Treasury through its Office of Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure Protection (OCCIP) has also launched a new cybersecurity initiative.
Through this program, blockchain companies can share timely information about cyber threats to help them defend against attacks and stay safe.
Final summary
- The US admiral has praised Bitcoin as a crucial computer science application for cybersecurity.
- China’s growing interest in cryptocurrencies requires the United States to take specific measures to maintain its leadership in the global market.