US military runs live Bitcoin node for national security testing

The US military has revealed it is running a live Bitcoin node as part of national security testing. On Polymarket, odds of Bitcoin reaching $200,000 by December 31, 2026, sit at 4.9% YES.

The Department of Defense’s deployment of a Bitcoin node marks a shift in how the US government treats the cryptocurrency, moving it closer to infrastructure status. The market focused on Bitcoin’s price reaching $200,000 holds at 4.9% YES probability, with no significant movement over the past week. Traders appear to be waiting for further signals before adjusting positions.

The Pentagon is reportedly using Bitcoin in security tests related to potential conflicts with China. Even at 4.9% odds for the $200,000 target, military adoption could feed a longer-term bullish case as Bitcoin gets pulled into national security planning.

Daily trading volume in this market is $505 in USDC. The cost to move the market by 5 percentage points is $1,589, which points to a thin order book that remains sensitive to large trades.

For traders, buying YES shares at 5¢ would yield a 20x return if Bitcoin hits $200,000 by end of 2026. That bet depends on further government integration of Bitcoin or major institutional buy-ins. Watch for announcements from BlackRock and Fidelity, regulatory shifts, or strategic moves from other national governments.