Is Bitcoin Warfare? With Jason Lowery - WBD660

Jason Lowery is a Major in the US Space Force and author of
Softwar: A Novel Theory on Power Projection and the National
Strategic Significance of Bitcoin. In this interview, we discuss
how he is building the case within the US Department of Defence
that Bitcoin represents a new form of digital warfare that the US
government needs to embrace to secure its power projection in
cyberspace.


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Jason Lowery burst onto the Bitcoin scene in August 2021. When a
senior member of the US Space Force enters the Bitcoin debate it
tends to turn heads! But, it was his novel projections of what
value Bitcoin presents to society that generated interest and
controversy. Bitcoiners have long espoused Bitcoin as a peaceful
revolution. Jason thinks Bitcoin can be used as a tool of
warfare. 


In Softwar, Jason’s recently released book on the national
strategic significance of Bitcoin, he explains the background of
modern warfare, tracing its roots back to the struggle for
survival in all forms of life. From single-cell organisms
upwards, all of life is involved in a fight for control over
resources and territory. Competition has resulted in an
ecological arms race manifested through evolutionary cycles of
improvements in physical power and the projection of that power.


Softwar explains that humans are just another life form involved
in this competition for survival.  Humans, however, have
become increasingly efficient at power projection techniques,
from wielding fire to using nuclear weapons. Now, as we
accelerate through the digital age, humans need to develop and
harness new and innovative methods to maintain their advantages
over adversaries. 


In his role within Space Force, which is developing the means to
project power beyond our planet, Jason has been contemplating
what other tools will be required as another arena for
competition opens up: cyberspace. Jason argues that Bitcoin has
the potential to be a revolutionary cybersecurity system. Proof
of Work is an innovation that moves the fight to the enemy,
imposing a cost on those wishing to undertake an attack. 


Softwar is a call to action for the US Department of Defence to
adopt Bitcoin as a tool of warfare in the new cyberspace
battlefield. Whilst designed to secure money, PoW can in theory
be used to secure other forms of data. Whether you agree with
this assertion or not, Jason is making progress within the DoD in
arguing Bitcoin’s utility makes it too important for the
Department of Treasury and Federal Reserve jurisdiction. And who
would bet against the DoD in a fight!