U.S. Space Force Major Jason P. Lowery recently published a thesis paper that quickly became an Amazon bestseller. Titled ‘Softwar’, the book goes beyond the traditional function of cryptocurrency and delves into the unique attributes of bitcoin and how these can be harnessed to enhance national security and impose non-violent constraints on malicious actors. Spanning the whole of 350 pages, the groundbreaking concept combines the insights from fields such as anthropology, computer science and cryptocurrency to develop and investigate Lowery’s ‘Power Projection Theory’ which suggests the proof-of-work mechanism of bitcoin transactions can be leveraged by military forces to achieve some level of control over malicious actors.

The paper further explored the implications of decentralized digital currencies and the disruption traditional financial systems face. Lowery further considered what would happen if the US government did not manage adequate bitcoin reserves and the near-futuristic possibility of committing the blockchain and digital currency to enhance the nation's cyber security.

The acknowledgments section of the book expressed gratitude to some of the prominent figures in the bitcoin space such as MicroStrategy’s Michael Saylor and Peter McCormack. As evidenced by its success on Amazon’s bestseller list, greater attention is being given to cryptocurrency and its associated possibilities. Since the impact of blockchain and digital currencies on national security is a difficult subject to tackle, the book highlights the need for governments and regulators to understand the implications of cryptocurrency on the respective topics and develop appropriate policies to manage the potential risks.



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