TFTC Launches Browser Extension Showing Prices in Bitcoin

Truth for the Commoner (TFTC), a media company advocating for Bitcoin and sound money principles, has launched the “Opportunity Cost” browser extension. This tool allows users to view online prices in Bitcoin (BTC) or satoshis (sats), helping them weigh purchasing decisions by considering the opportunity cost in Bitcoin terms. The extension was released on Wednesday and is open-source, with no revenue model.

The primary goals of the “Opportunity Cost” extension, as outlined by TFTC founder and contributor Marty Bent, are to promote low time preference behavior, increase Bitcoin adoption, and provide a tool for business owners to calculate revenue denominated in BTC. Low time preference behavior refers to the willingness to defer present consumption to meet future needs. Bent emphasized that the concept of opportunity cost has been distorted in the current fiat era due to interest rate manipulation and money printing, making traditional pricing signals unreliable. Bitcoin, according to Bent, reintroduces a proper hurdle rate that enables individuals to truly weigh the opportunity cost of their spending decisions. A hurdle rate is the lowest rate of return an investor will accept.

The browser extension is part of a broader effort to spur Bitcoin adoption and normalize a Bitcoin standard, where all prices and financial calculations are expressed in Bitcoin terms. This initiative aligns with the growing trend of companies and financial institutions adopting a Bitcoin treasury strategy. By converting all or a portion of their cash reserves to BTC, these entities are treating Bitcoin as a long-term savings account that accrues value over time, unlike traditional fiat cash reserves that depreciate.

Companies like Ledn, a BTC lending company, have developed Bitcoin-backed loan products. These loans allow BTC holders to use their Bitcoin as collateral to secure debt financing for various purposes, such as real estate purchases, automobiles, operational expenses, capital investment, and even acquiring more Bitcoin. This financial infrastructure is crucial for creating a Bitcoin standard where all economic calculations, including opportunity costs, savings, and lending markets, are denominated in BTC.

The launch of the “Opportunity Cost” browser extension by TFTC is a significant step towards promoting Bitcoin adoption and encouraging individuals to consider the long-term value of their spending decisions. By providing a tool that displays prices in Bitcoin terms, TFTC aims to normalize the use of Bitcoin as a standard for economic calculations, ultimately contributing to the broader acceptance and integration of Bitcoin into the global financial system.