US Space Force Major Jason Lowery called on the Department of Defense to conduct a thorough investigation into the Bitcoin Proof of Work (POW) protocol. This is because it believes it can be used as part of the country's protection strategy.
Lowery sent an open letter to the US Defense Innovation Council
in which asks for adoption Prisoners of war to prevent future attacks and thus maintain peace over a longer period of time, as much as possible.
In the letter, divided on X Bitcoin expert Dennis Porter describes Bitcoin as a game-changing network that has the potential to transform the global power grid into a large, physically expensive computer or “macrochip.”
So that “The Bitcoin protocol can be used to limit malicious actors and protect a wide range of data and messages that traverse the Internet,” Lowery added.
The proposal is to use a Bitcoin POW-based model to deter adversaries from carrying out cyberattacks due to the “high cost” of a physically resource-intensive computer, just as military means help deter attacks against the country.
Lowery points out that the way it is protected The Bitcoin network “fits the strategic compromise perfectly” and that the US Department of Defense may have already “wasted valuable time” by not implementing it into its arsenal.
Lowery's proposal comes less than two months after the 15th anniversary of the Bitcoin white paper. Date highlighted as the most secure network in the ecosystem.
Satoshi Nakamoto already stated in the Bitcoin white paper that “as long as honest nodes collectively control more computing power (CPU) than any group of cooperating attackers, the system is secure.”
In the meantime, Bitcoin, the original network and therefore the oldestit is almost impossible to hack.
An external attack on Bitcoin is virtually impossible to carry out as it would require around $2 billion in electricity and mining equipment, while these attacks on smaller blockchains would be more cost-effective. This is evident by Crypto51's list of costs for renting computing power on markets like NiceHash to attack a computer network and alter the file or blockchain for an hour.
A model based on a lot of work for the defense of the United States?
Commander Jason Lowery believes that a model based on Bitcoin Proof-of-Work can counter cyberattacks in the United States. However, no further details are given how the Bitcoin defense system would be applied to protect a country like the United States.
This is also pointed out by the American commander Jonathan White, who leaves a comment on the matter Linkedin. He points out that he does not understand the connection that might exist between the concept of a microcomputer and cybersecurity.
“Your letter introduces several concepts but does not say how a proof-of-work blockchain using the power grid can do the things you say (secure data, address vulnerabilities, etc.). I suppose that could be in your thesis, but you left it open for the reader to wonder about.”
Jonathan White, commander of the US Army.
White asserts that he is fully aware of how blockchain security works on Bitcoin, but that “that doesn't answer the question he raised at all, since it is not clear how the national security of the United States would work with one based on it System would be strengthened.” Bitcoin POW.
Others believe it is necessary to read the book “Softwar,” which Lowery published in the middle of this year and which he was later ordered to delete, as CriptoNoticias reported at the time.
There are also those who reject the idea, as John Betancourt points out, who asks why anyone would want PoW to be a gateway to their system? Then he replies, “The only purpose is to slow down the work.” allow solving the problem of the Byzantine generals. Nothing is encrypted or authenticated.
Byzantine Generals, a problem that Bitcoin solves
In any case, this so-called problem of the Byzantine generals, which Bitcoin solved through a combination of its various elements, should also be highlighted Enable the most appropriate consensus to prevent attacks.
The Byzantine Generals Problem is a thought experiment that metaphorically represents the challenge that arises when multiple elements of a system must coordinate flawlessly to defend against an attack.
The game theory analogy is based on a group of generals besieging Byzantium.
In this sense, the challenge is to design a protocol that allows generals or loyal actors Reach a solid consensus to combat Byzantine generals or dishonest actors.
So what happens in the decentralized Bitcoin system, where there is no central decision-making authority, is that the nodes and other elements have the ability to make independent decisions and reach consensus to deter dishonest activities.