What is Softwar about?

Softwar is a groundbreaking book by Major Jason Lowery that positions Bitcoin as a revolutionary national security technology. It reveals Bitcoin's true purpose: not merely digital currency, but a defense technology that projects physical power into cyberspace through proof-of-work.

Major Jason Paul Lowery is a U.S. Space Force Astronautical Engineer with 28 years of military service. He currently serves as an MIT National Defense Fellow, advising senior U.S. military leaders about Bitcoin's national strategic implications. He holds an MS from MIT and a BS from Baylor University.

Why was Softwar restricted by military authorities?

The book was ordered removed from distribution by military authorities, likely due to its strategic insights about Bitcoin's role in national defense. Despite restriction attempts, it's now available through civilian channels and has sold over 50,000 copies.

What is the electro-cyber dome concept?

The electro-cyber dome is Lowery's concept describing how Bitcoin's proof-of-work creates an unprecedented defensive shield protecting digital infrastructure. It converts electrical energy into unbreakable digital security, similar to how physical walls protect physical territory.

Where can I buy Softwar?

Softwar is available on Amazon in paperback, Kindle digital, and Audible audiobook formats. The book has 365 pages and is ISBN 9798371524188.

Nuclear Energy and Bitcoin Mining: The Perfect Synergy for Clean Baseload Power

Introduction

Nuclear energy and Bitcoin mining represent one of the most compelling pairings in modern energy strategy: clean, stable baseload power meeting flexible, economically optimized load. This synergy addresses challenges facing both nuclear power (inflexibility, economic pressure) and Bitcoin mining (energy cost volatility, public perception).

As Softwar theory demonstrates, Bitcoin mining converts energy into cyber-territorial security. When powered by nuclear energy, mining achieves:

Zero-carbon power projection: Clean, sustainable cyber-physical security
Energy independence: Domestic nuclear fuel cycle supports sovereign hash rate control
Economic optimization: Nuclear + mining economics superior to either alone
Strategic resilience: Baseload nuclear paired with flexible mining load

This article examines the nuclear-Bitcoin synergy, explores global implementations, and provides frameworks for nuclear operators and policymakers.

Why Nuclear + Bitcoin Mining Works

Nuclear Energy Characteristics

Strengths:

Baseload Excellence:

Constant output: Operates 90-95% capacity factor year-round
Predictable: No weather dependence, minimal seasonal variation
Reliable: Outages rare and scheduled months/years in advance
Long-lived: 60-80+ year operational lifetimes (with license extensions)

Clean Energy:

Zero emissions: No CO₂, NOx, SOx during operation
Energy density: 1,000,000x fossil fuels per unit mass
Minimal land use: 1 km² supports 1,000 MW (vs. 50-200 km² for renewables)
Life-cycle emissions: <15 g CO₂/kWh (comparable to wind/solar)

Energy Security:

Fuel abundance: Uranium supplies centuries at current usage
Domestic fuel cycle: Many nations can source/enrich domestically
Strategic asset: Critical infrastructure for energy independence
Resilience: Operates independently of weather, imports, geopolitics

Challenges:

Economic Inflexibility:

High capital costs: $5,000-10,000/kW upfront (but low operating costs)
Inflexible operation: Designed for constant 100% output (ramping difficult)
Poor economics at low utilization: Must run near 100% to be profitable
Stranded capacity: Nighttime/weekend low demand creates excess capacity

Market Competition:

Low wholesale prices: Cheap natural gas and renewables reduce nuclear revenue
Negative pricing: Variable renewables create periods of negative electricity prices
Economic pressure: Many nuclear plants struggle financially despite clean attributes
Premature closures: Economic pressure forcing early retirements (U.S., Germany)

Bitcoin Mining Characteristics

Strengths (Complementary to Nuclear):

Load Flexibility:

Instant interruptibility: Shut down within seconds without damage
Continuous operation: Can run 24/7 at baseload when economics permit
Economic optimization: Responds to electricity price signals automatically
Scalable: From kilowatts to gigawatts of flexible load

Price Tolerance:

Wide economic range: Profitable from $10-70/MWh electricity costs
Seeks lowest costs: Naturally gravitates to cheapest electricity sources
Long-term contracts: Can commit to multi-year electricity purchases

Energy Intensity:

High load factor: Consumes electricity continuously (95-99% uptime)
Minimal transmission: Low bandwidth data requirements (can locate anywhere)
Dense deployment: 10-100 MW per facility (match nuclear plant scale)

Challenges (Solved by Nuclear):

Energy Cost Volatility:

Profitability depends on electricity prices: Volatile in most markets
Intermittent renewables create price volatility: Wide price swings
Solution: Nuclear provides predictable, stable pricing

Public Perception:

Energy consumption criticism: “Bitcoin wastes energy”
Carbon emissions concern: Mining powered by fossil fuels draws opposition
Solution: Nuclear provides zero-carbon narrative

The Synergy

Nuclear solves Bitcoin’s challenges:

Stable, predictable costs: Nuclear provides long-term price certainty
Zero-carbon power: Clean energy narrative, ESG-compliant mining
Baseload supply: 24/7 availability matches mining’s constant demand

Bitcoin solves nuclear’s challenges:

Flexible load: Absorbs excess nighttime/weekend capacity
Economic stability: Guaranteed revenue stream improves nuclear economics
Load following: Bitcoin provides load flexibility without nuclear ramping
Premature closure prevention: Additional revenue keeps marginal plants profitable

Result: 1 + 1 = 3 — Nuclear + Bitcoin creates more value than either alone.

Economic Analysis

Nuclear Economics Without Bitcoin

Typical Nuclear Plant Economics:

Capital cost: $5-10B for 1,000 MW plant
Operating cost: $20-30/MWh
Wholesale electricity revenue: $30-60/MWh (average)
Capacity factor: 90% (baseload operation)

Economic Pressures:

Low demand periods: Revenue <$20/MWh (losses)
Negative pricing: Pay to produce during renewable overproduction
Underutilization: Economic pressure to reduce output (bad for economics)
Early retirement: ~20% of U.S. nuclear fleet retired early (2010-2020)

Example: Illinois nuclear plants nearly closed (2016-2021) due to low wholesale prices, saved only by state subsidies.

Nuclear + Bitcoin Mining Economics

Enhanced Economic Model:

Dual Revenue Streams:

Grid electricity sales: Sell when wholesale price >$40/MWh
Bitcoin mining: Mine when wholesale price <$40/MWh
Optimize continuously: Automated systems maximize total revenue

Economic Improvement:

Baseline nuclear revenue: $30-50/MWh average (grid sales)
Mining during low prices: Earn $30-60/MWh equivalent (Bitcoin revenue)
Total revenue increase: 10-40% higher than grid-only sales
Capacity factor: Maintain 95%+ utilization (economic optimum)

Example Scenario (1,000 MW nuclear plant):

Without Bitcoin Mining:

Annual generation: 7,884 GWh (90% capacity factor)
Average revenue: $40/MWh
Total revenue: $315M annually

With Bitcoin Mining (200 MW co-located):

Grid sales: 6,600 GWh at $42/MWh = $277M
Mining: 1,284 GWh at $50/MWh equivalent = $64M
Total revenue: $341M (+8% improvement)
Prevented early closure: Plant remains profitable

Investment Economics for Mining Operators

Nuclear-Powered Mining Advantages:

Long-Term Stability:

Fixed-price electricity contracts: 10-20 year agreements possible
Predictable costs: No seasonal or market volatility
Business planning: Stable economics enable long-term investment

Clean Energy Premium:

ESG compliance: Zero-carbon mining meets environmental standards
Institutional acceptance: Nuclear-powered mining more acceptable to regulators
Carbon-neutral Bitcoin: Premium pricing potential for clean Bitcoin

Economics:

Nuclear electricity cost: $30-50/MWh (long-term contracts)
Mining profitability: Profitable at <$60/MWh
Margin: Comfortable economic cushion for volatility

Global Implementations and Examples

United States

Talen Energy + TeraWulf (Susquehanna Nuclear Plant, Pennsylvania):

Model: Co-locate 300 MW mining facility at 2,500 MW nuclear plant

Capacity: 300 MW Bitcoin mining (world’s largest nuclear-powered operation)
Power source: 100% nuclear from adjacent Susquehanna plant
Economics: Long-term power purchase agreement with Talen Energy
Status: Operational since 2023, scaling to full capacity

Benefits:

Plant economics: Additional $100M+ annual revenue for nuclear operator
Clean mining: Zero-carbon Bitcoin production
Grid flexibility: Mining curtails during peak demand, supports grid

Challenges:

Regulatory scrutiny: PJM (grid operator) reviewing priority electricity access
Community concerns: Local opposition to industrial facility

Russia

Rosatom Nuclear Corporation:

Model: State-owned nuclear operator exploring Bitcoin mining

Capacity: Pilot programs at multiple nuclear plants
Rationale: Monetize excess nuclear capacity, support national Bitcoin reserves
Strategic objective: Hash rate control using domestic nuclear energy
Status: Early-stage exploration, political complexities

Strategic Implications:

Russia possesses large nuclear fleet (20+ GW capacity)
Potential for 2-5 GW nuclear-powered mining deployment
Would represent 3-8% of global Bitcoin hash rate
Energy independence meets cyber-territorial control

European Union

France (EDF Nuclear Fleet):

Potential: France operates 56 nuclear reactors (61 GW total)

Excess capacity: Significant nighttime and weekend surplus
Grid challenges: Must export or curtail during low-demand periods
Bitcoin opportunity: 2-5 GW mining potential to absorb excess

Status: Regulatory/political barriers currently prevent deployment

EU energy policy: Favors renewables over nuclear politically
Bitcoin skepticism: Regulatory uncertainty around cryptocurrency
Future potential: Policy shifts could unlock massive nuclear + mining opportunity

Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) + Bitcoin Mining

Next-Generation Nuclear:

Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are advanced nuclear designs:

Capacity: 50-300 MW per unit (vs. 1,000+ MW traditional)
Modular: Factory-built, truck-shippable, rapid deployment
Safety: Passive safety features, lower risk profiles
Economics: Lower capital costs, faster ROI

Bitcoin Mining Integration:

Advantages:

Right-sized for mining: 100 MW SMR perfectly matches 100 MW mining facility
Off-grid deployment: SMR + mining can operate anywhere (no grid needed)
Faster deployment: 3-5 years vs. 10-15 years for traditional nuclear
Economic optimization: Mining absorbs 100% output, stable revenue

Example Projects:

Oklo + Bitcoin Mining Exploration:

SMR developer exploring Bitcoin mining partnerships
Aurora powerhouse: 15 MW compact fast reactor
Perfect scale for remote mining operations
Zero-carbon, highly secure power source

TerraPower + Potential Mining:

Bill Gates-backed Natrium SMR design (345 MW)
Integrated energy storage (molten salt)
Could support large-scale zero-carbon mining operations
First unit under construction (Wyoming, completion ~2030)

Strategic Benefits for National Security

Energy Independence

Nuclear + Bitcoin Synergy:

Domestic nuclear fuel cycle: Uranium mining, enrichment, reactor operation all domestic
Energy sovereignty: No reliance on foreign energy imports
Hash rate sovereignty: Mining powered by domestic nuclear = cyber-territorial control
Strategic resilience: Nuclear + Bitcoin infrastructure survives geopolitical disruptions

Example: Nation with domestic nuclear fleet + mining achieves dual sovereignty—energy and digital.

Critical Infrastructure Protection

Nuclear Security + Bitcoin Security:

Physical security: Nuclear plants have military-grade security (armed guards, perimeter defenses)
Cybersecurity: Nuclear operators maintain highest cybersecurity standards
Strategic asset designation: Nuclear + mining as critical national infrastructure
Resilient architecture: Geographic distribution of nuclear + mining creates redundancy

Military Applications (Exploratory):

Secure communications: Bitcoin/Lightning for censorship-resistant military payments
Energy-cyber nexus: Integrate energy and cyber defense strategies
Operational flexibility: Nuclear + mining provides strategic resource flexibility

Adversarial Dynamics

Nuclear + Bitcoin as Strategic Deterrent:

Cyber-territorial dominance: Nuclear-powered hash rate establishes digital domain control
Economic independence: Adversaries cannot sanction or disrupt energy supply
Technology leadership: Nuclear + Bitcoin integration demonstrates strategic sophistication
Alliances: Partner with allied nations on nuclear + mining infrastructure

Potential Adversarial Response:

Competitors may pursue similar strategies (Russia, China reconsidering Bitcoin policy)
Hash rate competition drives nuclear buildout globally (positive for clean energy)
First-mover advantages accrue to early adopters

Policy and Implementation Framework

For Nuclear Operators

Phase 1: Feasibility Assessment (Months 1-6):

Identify excess capacity periods (nighttime, weekends, seasonal)
Model economics of mining vs. grid sales
Assess site suitability for mining co-location
Engage regulatory authorities on permitting

Phase 2: Pilot Deployment (Months 7-18):

Deploy 5-20 MW pilot mining facility
Test grid integration and load management
Measure economics and operational performance
Validate business case for scaling

Phase 3: Commercial Scale (Months 19+):

Scale to 50-500 MW based on plant size
Long-term power purchase agreements with miners
Integrate into plant economic optimization
Continuous monitoring and improvement

For Policymakers

Regulatory Support:

Classify nuclear + mining as strategic infrastructure:
- Recognize national security benefits
- Prioritize permitting and regulatory approvals
- Support pilot programs and demonstrations
Align energy and Bitcoin policy:
- Coordinate nuclear regulation and cryptocurrency policy
- Eliminate conflicting requirements
- Create unified framework for integration
Incentivize clean energy mining:
- Tax credits for zero-carbon Bitcoin mining
- Grants for nuclear + mining pilot projects
- Accelerated depreciation for clean energy mining equipment
Support nuclear fleet preservation:
- Recognize mining as economic lifeline for marginal nuclear plants
- Prevent premature closures through mining revenue enhancement
- Maintain clean baseload capacity for grid reliability

For Mining Operators

Site Selection:

Target nuclear plants with economic challenges (at-risk closures)
Prioritize plants with excess nighttime/weekend capacity
Assess regulatory environment and community acceptance
Evaluate long-term nuclear operator financial stability

Commercial Structure:

Negotiate long-term (10-20 year) power purchase agreements
Fixed-price contracts for economic certainty
Curtailment provisions for grid emergency support
Right-of-first-refusal for additional capacity

Operational Excellence:

Design for maximum flexibility and grid integration
Maintain highest cybersecurity standards (nuclear environment)
Engage proactively with community and stakeholders
Transparency and public education on clean energy benefits

Environmental Benefits

Carbon Emissions Comparison

Nuclear Bitcoin Mining:

Life-cycle emissions: <15 g CO₂/kWh (nuclear)
Mining emissions: <15 g CO₂/kWh × mining consumption
Result: Essentially zero-carbon Bitcoin production

Fossil Fuel Bitcoin Mining:

Coal: 800-1,000 g CO₂/kWh
Natural gas: 400-500 g CO₂/kWh
Result: 50-70x higher emissions than nuclear

Example: 100 MW nuclear-powered mining vs. coal:

Nuclear: 13,000 tonnes CO₂/year
Coal: 700,000 tonnes CO₂/year
Reduction: 687,000 tonnes CO₂/year (equivalent to 150,000 cars)

Nuclear Waste Considerations

Realistic Assessment:

Volume: Entire U.S. nuclear waste fits in single football field (6 meters deep)
Management: Dry cask storage safe for 100+ years (permanent repositories under development)
Comparative: Coal generates 100,000x more waste by mass (including toxic heavy metals)
Recycling potential: 95%+ of “waste” is recyclable fuel (France, Japan recycle)

Bitcoin Mining Impact on Waste:

Negligible increase: Mining adds <1% to nuclear fleet load
Same waste per kWh: Mining doesn’t change nuclear waste generation rate
Net benefit: Prevents fossil fuel emissions far exceeding nuclear waste concerns

Conclusion

Nuclear energy and Bitcoin mining represent a strategic synergy with profound implications:

For Nuclear Operators:

Economic improvement: 10-40% revenue increase from mining integration
Fleet preservation: Prevent premature closures of marginal plants
Flexibility: Bitcoin provides load management without nuclear ramping

For Bitcoin Miners:

Cost stability: Predictable long-term electricity costs
Clean energy: Zero-carbon mining narrative
Strategic partnerships: Alignment with critical infrastructure

For Nations:

Energy independence: Domestic nuclear supports sovereign energy
Cyber sovereignty: Nuclear-powered hash rate builds digital territorial control
Clean power: Nuclear + Bitcoin = zero-carbon cyber-physical security
Strategic resilience: Dual-use infrastructure enhances national security

As the world seeks both clean energy and digital economic infrastructure, nuclear + Bitcoin mining will become standard practice—not an experimental pairing, but a strategic imperative for forward-thinking nations and energy operators.

The future of clean, sovereign cyber-physical power projection lies in the elegant pairing of nuclear fission and proof-of-work consensus.

For more on energy-Bitcoin integration, see our guides on integrating Bitcoin with energy policy and building national Bitcoin reserves.

References

Academic & Research

Lowery, J.P. (2023). Softwar: A Novel Theory on Power Projection and the National Strategic Significance of Bitcoin. MIT Thesis.
Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance. (2024). Bitcoin Mining and Energy Sources. University of Cambridge.

Government & Nuclear Energy

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. (2024). Operating Nuclear Power Reactors.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). (2024). Nuclear Power and Sustainable Development.
U.S. Department of Energy. (2023). Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program.