Is Bitcoin Still a Sovereign Tool?

Bitcoin Magazine

Is Bitcoin Still a Sovereign Tool?

A new panel has officially been announced for Bitcoin 2026 titled “Is Bitcoin Still A Sovereign Tool?” featuring Matt Odell, Bruce Fenton, Luke Rudkowski, and BTC Sessions. The conversation will bring together these four voices who have spent years examining the intersection of Bitcoin, individual freedom, institutional adoption, and whether Bitcoin is staying true to its original ethos as adoption accelerates.

Matt Odell is an entrepreneur, podcaster, and venture capitalist best known for his Bitcoin privacy advocacy and working in freedom technology education for over a decade with guides, workshops, and even training activists on how to use Bitcoin. He is a managing partner at Ten31, the largest Bitcoin technology investor in the world, and co-founder of OpenSats, Bitcoin Park, and the Bitcoin Policy Institute.

Bruce Fenton has been involved in Bitcoin since 2012 and is the founder and host of the Satoshi Roundtable, now in its 12th year — an invitation-only annual retreat for leading CEOs, developers, founders, and academics in the Bitcoin ecosystem. He previously served as Executive Director of the Bitcoin Foundation and organized the first Dubai Bitcoin Conference in 2014.

Luke Rudkowski is an independent journalist and founder of We Are Change, a grassroots media outlet who has covered Bitcoin through the lens of government overreach, financial freedom, and decentralization for over a decade.

BTC Sessions, the online handle of Ben Perrin, runs the world’s longest-running and most-watched Bitcoin-only educational YouTube channel, focused on self-custody, privacy, and making Bitcoin accessible to everyday users.

The panel will cover whether Bitcoin’s core promise of individual sovereignty has been preserved as institutional adoption, government reserves, and corporate treasuries have entered the space, and what it means for the everyday Bitcoiner. It takes place April 28 at 5:30 PM on the Nakamoto Stage at Bitcoin 2026, The Venetian Resort, Las Vegas.

Bitcoin 2026 is Returning to Las Vegas

Bitcoin 2026 will take place April 27–29 at The Venetian, Las Vegas, and is expected to be the biggest Bitcoin event of the year.

Focused on the future of money, Bitcoin 2026 will bring together Bitcoin builders, investors, miners, policymakers, technologists, and newcomers from around the world. The event will feature a wide range of pass types, including general admission passes designed specifically for those new to Bitcoin, alongside premium passes for professionals, enterprises, and institutions.

With multiple stages, immersive experiences, technical workshops, and headline keynotes, Bitcoin 2026 is designed to serve both first-time attendees and long-time Bitcoiners shaping the next era of global adoption.

Past Bitcoin Conferences in the U.S.

Bitcoin’s flagship conference has scaled dramatically over the past five years:

2021 – Miami: 11,000 attendees
2022 – Miami: 26,000 attendees
2023 – Miami: 15,000 attendees
2024 – Nashville: 22,000 attendees
2025 – Las Vegas: 35,000 attendees

Get Your Bitcoin 2026 Pass

Bitcoin Magazine readers can save 10% on Bitcoin 2026 tickets using code ‘ARTICLE10‘ at checkout.

Stay at The official hotel of Bitcoin 2026, The Venetian, and get a guaranteed low rate plus 15% off your pass. Be in the middle of where the fun is all happening, and where the networking never ends.

And don’t forget:

Volunteer at Bitcoin 2026 and get Pro Pass access plus exclusive perks.

All students ages 13+ can apply for a Student Pass and get free general admission access to Bitcoin 2026.

Location: The Venetian, Las Vegas
Dates: April 27–29, 2026

For more information and exclusive offers, visit the Bitcoin Conference on X here.

Why Attend Bitcoin 2026?

Bitcoin 2026 is the definitive gathering for anyone serious about the future of money. With 500+ speakers, multiple world-class stages, and programming spanning Bitcoin fundamentals, open-source development, enterprise adoption, mining, energy, AI, policy, and culture, the conference brings every corner of the Bitcoin ecosystem together under one roof.

From headline keynotes on the Nakamoto Stage to deep technical sessions for builders, institutional strategy discussions for enterprises, and beginner-friendly Bitcoin 101 education, Bitcoin 2026 is designed for everyone—from first-time attendees to the leaders shaping Bitcoin’s global adoption.

Whether you’re looking to learn, build, invest, network, or influence, Bitcoin 2026 is where Bitcoin’s next chapter is written.

Bitcoin 2026 Pass Types: Something for Everyone

Bitcoin 2026 offers a range of pass options designed to meet the needs of newcomers, professionals, enterprises, and high-net-worth Bitcoiners alike.

Bitcoin 2026 General Admission Pass

Ideal for newcomers and those looking to experience the heart of the conference.

Limited access on Days 2 & 3
Entry to Main Stage
Access to Genesis Stage
Full access to the Expo Hall

Bitcoin 2026 Pro Pass

Designed for professionals, operators, and serious Bitcoin participants.

Includes all General Admission features, plus:

Full 3-day access, including Pro Day
Entry to the Pro Pass Reception
Access to Enterprise Hall, Enterprise Stage, and Networking Lounge
Conference App networking features
Access to the Bitcoin For Corporations Symposium
Entry to Compute Village and Energy Stage
Complimentary lunch, coffee, tea, and snacks
Dedicated registration and check-in
Reserved seating at Main Stage
Huge savings when you bundle your hotel and Pro Pass

Bitcoin 2026 Whale Pass

The all-inclusive, premium Bitcoin 2026 experience.

Includes all Pro Pass features, plus:

Reserved seating at Main Stage
All-inclusive gourmet food and beverages
Entry to Whale Night and Whale Reception
Access to all official after-parties
Networking app access to connect with other Whales
Premium access to The Deep — an exclusive networking lounge with intimate speaker sessions
Complimentary stay at The Venetian when you bundle your whale pass and hotel (use promo code ‘WHALEHOTEL’ here)

This is the most immersive way to experience Bitcoin 2026.

Bitcoin 2026 After Hours Pass

Your ticket to the night.

Most deals are done with a drink in your hand. Get exclusive access to 3 official Bitcoin 2026 after-parties across Las Vegas — each with a 2-hour open bar — where the real conversations happen and the best connections are made.