Over 20 Commercial Vessels Pass Through Strait of Hormuz in 24 Hours

U.S. military confirms operating a Bitcoin node; Indo-Pacific commander: BTC has the potential to be a “national-level security asset”

In testimony, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command commander Admiral Paparo confirmed that units are running nodes on the Bitcoin network and conducting security testing, focusing on cryptography, blockchain, and proof of work, and treating Bitcoin as a strategic asset for maintaining national security. This marks the first time the U.S. military has publicly defined a national security tool in terms of Bitcoin, showing that Bitcoin is shifting from a financial asset to a nation-level application, with still some confidential content not yet disclosed.

Middle East situation escalates? The U.S. State Department urgently urges citizens: Leave Iran and Lebanon immediately

Tensions in the Middle East are escalating, and the U.S. State Department has warned American citizens in Iran and Lebanon to leave immediately. They should prioritize taking commercial flights, and they may also consider exiting by land. Some Iranian airspace has partially reopened; people need to evacuate quickly and stay alert to local updates. The situation in Lebanon is complex—be sure to evacuate when commercial air travel is available. Rubio urged people to register for STEP; the government will help arrange charter flights and waive evacuation fees. Asian stocks fell, and Bitcoin dropped below 78K.

Peru's President Appoints New Defense Minister After Officials Resign Over U.S. Military Aircraft Dispute

Peru's president appointed Amadeo Flores Carcanio as Defense Minister after the resignations of Carlos Diaz and Hugo Desera, following the government's refusal to buy U.S. military aircraft. Abstract: This article reports that Peru's president Jose Barco Vargas appointed Amadeo Flores Carcanio as defense minister on April 22, after the resignations of Carlos Diaz and Hugo Desera. The resignations followed the government's decision not to purchase U.S. military aircraft.

Japan's FSA Advances Crypto Asset Reclassification to Financial Instruments Law, Launches Three Stable Coin Payment Pilot Projects

Gate News message, April 23 — Japan's Financial Services Agency (FSA) has submitted legislation to Parliament proposing to reclassify crypto assets from the Payment Services Act to the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, according to remarks by Shigeru Shimizu, director of the FSA's Risk

U.S. State Department Orders American Citizens to Leave Iran as Airspace Partially Reopens

Gate News message, April 23 — The U.S. State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs issued a statement on April 22, urging American citizens in Iran to depart immediately following Iran's partial reopening of its airspace. The bureau advised U.S. citizens to monitor local media for updates on the

U.S. Military Runs Bitcoin Node for Cybersecurity Testing, Admiral Paparo Confirms

Gate News message, April 23 — Admiral Samuel Paparo, commander of U.S. Pacific Command, testified before Congress that the U.S. government is operating a Bitcoin network node for cybersecurity-related testing but is not participating in mining. Paparo stated that the military views Bitcoin as a