During the 2024 Bitcoin event in Nashville, Bitcoin advocate Jimmy Song criticised the topics covered by the event's speakers, particularly highlighting concerns about the involvement of financial institutions like BlackRock. Song argued that the presence of such entities at the event strayed from Bitcoin's core values of liberty, freedom, and self-sovereignty. He emphasised that Bitcoin's strength lies in its decentralised nature and its potential to empower individuals, free from the control of traditional financial systems and state oversight.Song's sentiments were echoed by fellow panellist Luke Rudkowski, who highlighted Bitcoin's role in allowing people to recognize and address issues created by government intervention. The panel also touched on broader concerns about state surveillance and the potential for technologies like Bitcoin to counteract these issues​.