Amid the ongoing debate over the geopolitical implications of Bitcoin, a graduate thesis by U.S. Space Force major Jason Lowery has emerged on top-selling lists and categories on Amazon’s books.
Lowery’s academic research, conducted during a six-month Department of Defense-sponsored fellowship at MIT, resulted in “Softwar: A Novel Theory on Power Projection and the National Strategic Significance of Bitcoin.”
Lowery’s “Power Projection Theory” proposes that Bitcoin could be leveraged by military powers as a non-lethal means of imposing restrictions on bad actors. The theory suggests that the proof-of-work system that underpins Bitcoin transaction verification could be used to demand significant computational work from adversaries.
However, this groundbreaking idea raises concerns about the U.S. government’s imperialist intrusions and neoliberal agenda, particularly towards developing nations. Lowery asserts that insufficient Bitcoin reserves held by the U.S. government could jeopardize national security if (on the condition that it does not follow through or is not considered for implementation) the network is used as a cyber-security tool.
The U.S. government’s recent sale of $215 million in seized Bitcoin, announced shortly after Lowery’s thesis was published, highlights the potential disconnect between his views and the government’s approach.
It is crucial to evaluate the broader implications of Lowery’s thesis in the context of the U.S. government’s ongoing interventions in developing countries. The potential to use Bitcoin as a means of exerting power over adversaries could further aggravate the power imbalance between developed and developing nations, exacerbating existing geopolitical tensions.
While “Softwar” includes a disclaimer that the paper does not reflect any official position held by the Department of Defense, Air Force, or MIT, it still managed to secure a significant readership on Amazon, frequently holding the number one spot in the digital currencies category and ranking second in both technology an
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Author: Vince Dioquino