Jeff Bezos was inspired by Jim Sinegal of Costco after a 2001 meeting, deciding Amazon would prioritize low prices, emulating Costco's approach of passing savings to customers rather than increasing profits. This idea highlights that while some companies choose to maintain low margins as a strategic decision, others do so out of necessity due to poor business models, which can inform investment strategies. In the blockchain context, the concept of maximal extractable value (MEV) indicates that pricing power for layer-one blockchains is limited. The recent introduction of the Block Assembly Marketplace by Jito Labs on Solana could shift MEV capture, affecting revenue for SOL token holders. This change mirrors Costco's focus on passing efficiencies to customers, raising questions about network economics, but potentially serving the greater good by allowing apps to handle transaction sequencing. Investors might thus focus on companies with sustainable low pricing strategies rather than those forced into low margins.

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