Bitcoin & Crypto Is An Intelligence Tool?! | Robert Viglione

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Oct 1, 2025

Robert Viglione, Co-founder & CEO of Horizen Labs and military intelligence veteran, dives into the transformative power of zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs). He shares his journey discovering Bitcoin while in Afghanistan and discusses ZKPs' vital role in national security, from secure communications to digital identity solutions. Viglione explains how ZKPs can streamline KYC processes without compromising personal data and predicts a future where trillions of proofs will be generated by devices, reshaping privacy in a digital age.

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ANECDOTE

Discovering Bitcoin In Afghanistan

Rob Viglione discovered Bitcoin while serving in Afghanistan and taught soldiers to use wallets.
He realized early that Bitcoin was a game changer for national security and finance.

INSIGHT

Proofs Enable Secret Yet Verifiable Sharing

Zero-knowledge proofs let machines share verifiable information without revealing underlying data.
That capability is critical for secure satellite links, identities, and cross-border finance.

INSIGHT

Privacy-Preserving Digital Identities

Cryptographic digital identities let you prove status without exposing personal data.
That linkage between identity and finance is foundational for national security.

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Robert Viglione is the Co-Founder & CEO at Horizen Labs, and the Founder of zkVerify . In this conversation we talk about zero-knowledge proofs, why they are critical for U.S. national security, how this technology allows machines to share information without revealing data, Rob’s experience as a military intelligence officer in Afghanistan, how he discovered the value of Bitcoin, and why ZKPs are one of the most underrated technologies shaping the future.

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Timestamps:

0:00 - Intro
2:28 - ZK proofs and bitcoin & crypto in Afghanistan
7:25 - National security use cases
10:42 - Biggest areas for opportunity
14:45 - AI, proof of human & machine
20:25 - Why blockchain is so valuable
24:44 - What are some technical obstacles?
27:17 - How to cut costs and improve efficiency
30:33 - Bitcoin integration & future tech