CIA Deputy Director Michael Jayellis has confirmed that the agency views Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies not just as speculative assets, but as operational tools.
In a recent interview with investor Anthony Pompliano, Jayellis described Bitcoin as “another tool in the toolbox,” specifically in reference to facilitating payments and gathering intelligence.
Contrary to popular belief, Jayellis emphasized that BTC is not anonymous, but pseudonymous—making it traceable and useful for tracking bad actors. The CIA, he noted, actively collaborates with law enforcement to monitor crypto-related activity by terrorist groups, drug cartels, and hostile regimes.
Strategic Competition and Intelligence Collection
Jayellis positioned Bitcoin within a broader landscape of technological competition, especially with adversaries like China. He stated that the CIA is working to ensure the U.S. remains a global leader in the crypto space and uses blockchain intelligence tools to both monitor adversaries and gather critical data.
Cryptocurrency, according to Jayellis, offers a two-fold benefit: it can be leveraged for intelligence gathering and used to disrupt illicit financial networks. “Bitcoin is here to stay,” he remarked, pointing to growing institutional adoption as a positive trend supported by the Trump administration.
Cryptocurrency and National Security Priorities
Jayellis also tied the CIA’s focus on crypto to a broader national agenda: the dismantling of international cartels. He said the agency was fully aligned with President Trump’s directive to eliminate cartel threats and that crypto intelligence would play a role in achieving that goal.
Describing cartel activity as a global threat akin to terrorism, Jayellis called for a united government effort to close any gaps between intelligence and law enforcement. He reaffirmed the CIA’s commitment to using digital assets and blockchain surveillance as part of this strategy.
Kosta Gushterov
Reporter at Coindoo
Kosta has been a part of the team since 2021 and has solidified his position with a thirst for knowledge, incredible dedication to his work and a “detective-like” mindset. He not only covers a wide range of trending topics, he also creates reviews, PR articles and educational content. His work has also been referenced by other news outlets.
Source: https://coindoo.com/cia-eyes-bitcoin-as-strategic-tool-for-payments-and-intelligence/