In a recent speech at a Bitcoin Policy Institute event, Michael Saylor expressed strong alignment with Major Jason Lowery’s concept of ‘SoftWar,’ characterizing Bitcoin as a vital defense tool rather than merely a financial instrument.
Saylor articulated Bitcoin’s significance as a “digital defense system,” drawing parallels between its open and decentralized energy flow and the strategic military defense of cyberspace. He reinforced Lowery’s SoftWar theory by stressing the necessity of Bitcoin control for national security, particularly highlighting its defensive capabilities against advanced threats, including artificial intelligence systems.
In his address, Saylor pointed out that the network’s power—boasting “800 exahashes” of encryption—creates an insurmountable barrier against AI attacks, referencing earlier remarks by Elon Musk regarding the challenges AI faces when trying to compromise Bitcoin. The Bitcoin startup AuthLN is actively developing technology leveraging the Lightning Network to render brute force hacking financially unappealing for malicious actors.
Saylor framed the immense hashing power of the network as an unparalleled safeguard for economic value and national security. Further echoing Lowery’s strategic perspective, he argued that relinquishing control over Bitcoin would equate to losing authority in cyberspace.
He warned that failing to uphold this control could lead to significant economic turmoil similar to being severed from vital shipping routes, invoking historical examples from warfare and economic rivalry.
Saylor urged for urgent and substantial national investments in Bitcoin, underscoring Strategy’s own major financial contributions—$33 billion for approximately 2.4% of the Bitcoin network—as a testament to Bitcoin’s strategic and economic importance, suggesting that a trillion-dollar valuation underlies the network’s security.
The sense of urgency in his message reflects Lowery’s assertion that nations must actively engage in Bitcoin’s hashing competition to secure strategic advantages without having to resort to violent means, reinforcing Bitcoin’s status as a fundamental element of contemporary geopolitical strategy.
Saylor concluded by stating that Bitcoin signifies “manifest destiny” for America, framing the choice as a clear dichotomy between “prosperity or poverty” depending on whether nations can effectively harness Bitcoin’s strategic potential.