At the 2024 Bitcoin Conference in Nashville, writer Jimmy Song sharply criticized the first day's agenda, arguing that discussions of the increasingly pervasive banking industry, institutional investments, and US exchange traded funds strayed from Bitcoin's core values. He emphasized the greatness of Bitcoin in terms of freedom, independence, and self-sovereignty, and condemned the involvement of Financial Institutions Groups such as BlackRock. Song emphasized that Bitcoin should be kept away from interference by states and multinational companies. Independent media personality Luke Rudkowski supported Song's view that Bitcoin provides an opportunity to expose people to government problems, and emphasized that its decentralized nature can help individuals become independent of state structures.