CIA Eyes Bitcoin as Strategic Tool for Payments and Intelligence

CIA Deputy Director Michael Jayellis has confirmed that the agency views Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies not just as speculative assets, but as operational tools.

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is closely monitoring Bitcoin (BTC) and other cryptocurrencies as strategic tools for facilitating payments and gathering intelligence, especially in tracking the activity of terrorist groups, drug cartels, and hostile regimes, according to remarks by CIA Deputy Director Michael Jayellis.

In an interview with investor Anthony Pompliano, Jayellis discussed how the agency views digital assets not just as speculative investments but also operational tools in its broader operations.

Contrary to popular opinion, Jayellis emphasized that BTC is not anonymous, but pseudonymous—making it possible to follow the trail and identify the users, especially when there is an initial point of contact.

“We can follow that chain and tie it back to the bad actors that we’re tracking,” Jayellis said.

He added that the CIA is working closely with relevant authorities to monitor any crypto-related activity by terrorist groups, drug cartels, or hostile foreign regimes.

Strategic Competition and Intelligence Tools

Positioning Bitcoin within a broader landscape of technological competition, especially with adversaries like China, Jayellis stated that the CIA is working to ensure the U.S. remains a global leader in the crypto sphere and uses blockchain intelligence tools to both monitor adversaries and gather critical data.

“We’re trying to make sure that the U.S. remains competitive in that technological landscape and that we’re able to use that technology to collect intelligence on foreign powers and to disrupt their activity,” he said.

Jayellis highlighted that cryptocurrency presents 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, noting the growing institutional adoption, which he said is a positive trend that began with the Trump administration.

Cryptocurrency and National Security Priorities

Jayellis also linked 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 in the same vein as terrorism, Jayellis called for a unified government effort to close any gaps between intelligence and law enforcement.

He concluded by summarizing the CIA’s approach: “We’re going to use digital assets, we’re going to use blockchain surveillance to try and help disrupt those cartels and return the illicit proceeds.”