MIT Space Force major proposes Bitcoin mining as cybersecurity tool

An active-duty United States Space Force astronautical technologist is proposing to the Pentagon a cybersecurity instrumentality susceptible of transforming the country's nationalist information and adjacent the base-layer architecture of the internet: Bitcoin (BTC).

In an world thesis, Major Jason Lowery, who is besides a National Defense Fellow astatine Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), presented a caller mentation to the U.S. Department of Defense that Bitcoin is much than conscionable a peer-to-peer outgo system, but it is simply a caller signifier of "digital-age warfare," arguing that proof-of-work technologies volition alteration the mode humans vie globally, according to Ben Schreckinger's reappraisal of the publication successful Politico.

Published successful February, Lowery's master's grade thesis dubbed "Softwar" sits successful 3rd presumption connected Amazon's database of best-selling exertion books astatine the clip of writing. According to his Amazon bio, Lowery has a decennary of acquisition "serving arsenic a limb strategy developer and method advisor for US elder officials," including Bitcoin-related policies to the White House.

Related: Proof-of-Work, Explained

Lowery's probe argues that the U.S. subject could usage Bitcoin to halt definite types of attacks, specified arsenic denial-of-service attacks, which overload servers with excessively galore requests. The conception involves creating bundle programs that lone respond to signals from ample transactions recorded connected the Bitcoin network. This would marque it harder for attackers to flood servers with fake signals and origin damage.

Lowery besides suggests that the Bitcoin web is similar Maritime commercialized routes, which means it's suited for economical exchange. Consequently, it's important to support state of navigation connected the network, conscionable arsenic we support commercialized routes.

By designing bundle programs that lone respond to outer signals if they travel with a ample capable Bitcoin transaction recorded connected the network, Lowery argues they would forestall adversaries from gaining power implicit them.

According to the author, the U.S. should besides stockpile Bitcoin, physique a home Bitcoin mining industry, and widen ineligible protections to the technology. In his view, Bitcoin is simply a limb of self-defense, and the state should support it arsenic it does different rights.

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