The Combatting Terrorism Technical Support Office CTTSO (http://www.cttso.gov) has listed Bitcoin among it’s topics for research and mission critical analysis related to terrorism “at home and abroad”.

The original bid notice appeared on the government contracting website FedBizOps:

https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=dde16c3287e01f9c4e23cef3e1593b83&tab=core&_cview=1

Below is a screenshot of the CTTSO homepage as well as the bid page and section mentioning Bitcoin.

The CTTSO works under the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations.

Since there are no details about what the prospective research would entail one can only speculate as to the purpose other than knowing for certain that the US Government does intend to use taxpayer dollars to research Bitcoin and virtual currencies in some way.

What do you think? Have any insight, ideas, thoughts or comments?

Please share.

Update: Bitcoin Magazine had also come across the same bid — they cover it (starting a few paragraphs down) and include a link to a PowerPoint which is part of the process. http://bitcoinmagazine.com/12517/u-s-navy-preparing-bitcoin-battalion/