A new browser extension, Opportunity Cost, automatically converts all product prices on visited websites into Bitcoin and its smallest denomination, sats. The creator believes this tool can play a significant role in the cryptocurrency’s mass adoption, aid personal financial education, and potentially reduce impulsive spending.

Quick Examples

Pricing Conversions:

• Ninja Blender: $40 / 84,182 sats
• Lamborghini Aventador: $400,000 / 3.83 BTC
• Luxury New York Apartment: $11.5M / 560 BTC
• Cristiano Ronaldo’s Yearly Salary: $70M / 2,570 BTC

The Opportunity Cost Principle

Viewing everyday expenses through the lens of Bitcoin can provide perspective and humor. More importantly, the extension aims to illustrate the potential opportunity cost of purchases—asking users whether the item they’re considering buying is more valuable to them than accumulating an equivalent amount of Bitcoin.

Immediate Success and Creator’s Vision

Launched on Chrome and Brave browsers June 11th, Opportunity Cost experienced immediate social media traction. Crypto enthusiasts shared humorous conversions, leading to broader awareness of everyday expenses measured in cryptocurrency.

Created by Marty Bent, Managing Partner at investment firm Ten31 and founder of Bitcoin-focused media company Truth For The Commoner (TFTC), the extension serves dual purposes. While potentially useful for his company’s employees in its cryptocurrency adoption efforts, Bent cites deeper educational value:

“Many people hear you [about Bitcoin] when you do [explain it directly], but not many listen,” he explained. “This tool is a way to help people see Bitcoin actively and begin to conceptualize what the world would look like if Bitcoin were their money.”

Reinforcing the Narrative

The extension’s launch coincided with a notable shift in opinion from Bitcoin critic and economist Peter Schiff, who eventually admitted his position might need revisiting if a Bitcoin-based pricing system becomes mainstream.

Fiat vs. Bitcoin

Bent opposes fiat currency due to its inherent inflationary nature and views stablecoins, which remain tied to volatile national currencies, as ultimately unstable. He believes Bitcoin provides a superior store of value.

Viral Potential

Bent anticipates slow initial adoption among non-Bitcoiners but believes the tool’s social sharing potential could rapidly expand awareness:

“The power of the tool is that it can go very viral. People ‘into’ Bitcoin will share screenshots, and hopefully those outside will begin to ask questions about Bitcoin.”

Beyond Conversion

Beyond simple conversion, the tool aims to reframe spending habits:

“As you’re shopping… it’s also to ask yourself the question: Would I rather have this trinket, or buy this much Bitcoin?”

“When you see a four-bedroom apartment priced at 500 [BTC], it forces one to question the real value.”

A future planned feature will visually demonstrate how Bitcoin’s increasing value can compensate for rising prices in an inflationary environment.

Bent views Opportunity Cost primarily as a tool for education and conceptualization, built by someone actively using and advocating for Bitcoin in both personal and professional contexts.