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U.S. Congressman Lance Gooden Says Pentagon Is Studying Bitcoin for Cyber Defense

U.S. Congressman Lance Gooden Says Pentagon Is Studying Bitcoin for Cyber Defense

Lance Gooden said the Pentagon (United States Department of Defense) is researching how Bitcoin could help strengthen cyber defenses, framing the asset as part of a broader national security shift.

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Fact Check
The claim is very well supported. The Bitcoin Magazine X post (the original linked source) directly quotes Gooden making the statement. More importantly, two official press releases on Gooden's own congressional website (gooden.house.gov) provide detailed primary documentation of the underlying events: on April 22, 2026, Gooden questioned INDOPACOM Commander Admiral Paparo at a House Armed Services Committee hearing, where Paparo confirmed the military operates a Bitcoin node for network security; on April 30, 2026, Gooden questioned Defense Secretary Hegseth, who confirmed Bitcoin as a strategic asset with classified DoD initiatives underway. These official government records confirm that Gooden did make these statements and that senior Pentagon officials corroborated the substance of his claims in congressional testimony. The framing of Bitcoin as part of a 'national security shift' is consistent with Paparo's and Hegseth's on-record statements. The minor uncertainty (4%) reflects that the specific May 19 quote is from a secondary media report rather than a direct congressional transcript, though the underlying substance is thoroughly documented.
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Summary

U.S. Congressman Lance Gooden said the Pentagon (United States Department of Defense) is currently researching how Bitcoin can be used to strengthen cyber defenses. He added that Bitcoin is at the center of a paradigm shift in national security that the U.S. military is moving to capitalize on. The statement points to potential government interest in Bitcoin beyond investment or payments, specifically in cybersecurity and national security applications, although no technical details, timeline, or official Pentagon documentation were provided in the source.

Terms & Concepts
  • Bitcoin: A decentralized digital currency that operates on a public blockchain (shared digital ledger) without relying on a central authority.
  • Blockchain: A distributed database that records transactions across a network, making records transparent and difficult to alter retroactively.
  • Cyber defense: Measures used to protect computer systems, networks, and digital infrastructure from attacks, intrusion, or disruption.