Jason Lowery

Major Jason Lowery is an active-duty officer in the United States Space Force (USSF) and an astronautical engineer who has gained significant prominence in the cryptocurrency industry for his novel theory on Bitcoin. He currently serves as the Deputy Director of Technology & Innovation at the Space Force. Lowery is best known as the author of Softwar: A Novel Theory on Power Projection and the National Strategic Significance of Bitcoin, a master’s thesis-turned-book that proposes Bitcoin is not merely a peer-to-peer electronic cash system, but an “electro-cyber” security protocol capable of transforming national defense.

Overview

Lowery challenges the traditional financial view of Bitcoin, arguing instead from a military strategic perspective. His central thesis posits that Proof-of-Work (PoW) represents a breakthrough in “power projection” theory. Just as land, sea, air, and space forces impose physical costs to deny access to resources, Lowery argues that Bitcoin’s PoW mechanism allows nations to impose physical costs (energy expenditure) on the digital domain, effectively securing data and networks through thermodynamic force rather than abstract logic.

Lowery has become a polarizing but highly influential figure, bridging the gap between the “cypherpunk” ethos of Bitcoin and the rigid hierarchy of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). He advocates for the U.S. government to accumulate Bitcoin and hashing power not for economic gain, but as a strategic imperative to preserve American dominance in the digital age.

Education and Military Career

Lowery’s background is rooted in advanced engineering and defense strategy.

• Education: He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Baylor University and a Master of Science in Astronautical Engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology. He later became a National Defense Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he researched system design and management.
• Air Force to Space Force: Lowery began his career in the U.S. Air Force, serving as an all-source intelligence analyst and subject matter expert in electronic warfare and ballistics. He later transferred to the U.S. Space Force, where he has focused on space weapon system design and technology innovation.
• Advisory Role: In his capacity as a DoD-sponsored fellow, Lowery has advised senior military officials and the Office of the President on the strategic implications of Proof-of-Work networks.

The “Softwar” Thesis

In February 2023, Lowery published his MIT thesis as a book titled Softwar. It quickly became a bestseller in the technology and finance categories before being abruptly removed from circulation.

The core argument of Softwar is that Bitcoin functions as a “physical” anchor for the digital world. Lowery distinguishes between “abstract power” (laws, bureaucracy, logic) and “physical power” (watts, joules, kinetic force). He argues that because cyberspace is fundamentally abstract, it is insecure; however, Bitcoin introduces physical cost (energy) into this environment. By converting electricity into digital security, Bitcoin allows actors to settle disputes and secure property rights without resorting to kinetic (lethal) warfare—hence the term “Softwar.”

Censorship and Controversy

Lowery’s work has faced significant institutional friction. In 2023, shortly after Softwar gained viral popularity, Lowery was ordered to remove the book from commercial sale and stop discussing Bitcoin publicly. Reports indicated that the Department of Defense had initiated a retro-active security review of the text to ensure it did not reveal sensitive national security concepts.

The removal of the book sparked a “Streisand Effect,” driving secondary market prices for physical copies to hundreds of dollars and cementing Lowery’s status as a whistleblower-like figure in the eyes of Bitcoin proponents.

While many in the Bitcoin community hail him as a visionary, he also faces criticism. Some technical experts argue his metaphors regarding “digital energy” are scientifically imprecise, while military skeptics view his push for government adoption as a conflict of interest or a misunderstanding of monetary policy. Despite the restrictions on his public speaking, Lowery remains a central figure in the dialogue regarding Bitcoin's role in future geopolitical conflicts.

• United States Space Force Deputy Director, Technology & Innovation
• United States Space Force, MIT Department of the Air Force Fellow