Bitcoin Magazine

Fast-Food Chain Steak ‘n Shake to Pay Hourly Workers a Bitcoin Bonus

Fast-food chain Steak ‘n Shake is rolling out a bitcoin bonus program for hourly workers, deepening its embrace of bitcoin just days after disclosing a $10 million bitcoin purchase for its corporate treasury.

Starting March 1, hourly employees at company-operated Steak ’n Shake locations will earn a bitcoin bonus worth $0.21 for every hour worked. The rewards will vest after two years, meaning workers must remain employed for that period before they can access the accumulated bitcoin.

The bonus is roughly equivalent to about 1% of the U.S. federal minimum wage and will be administered in partnership with Fold, a bitcoin rewards application.

Employees will continue to receive their regular wages in dollars, with the bitcoin component treated as an additional incentive rather than a replacement for cash pay.

The move builds on Steak ‘n Shake’s broader crypto strategy, which began in 2025 when the burger chain started accepting bitcoin payments via the Lightning Network at all U.S. locations. 

At the time, company executives said the integration reduced card processing fees by roughly half and helped attract younger customers. Same-store sales rose more than 10% in the second quarter of 2025, according to company comments.

Steak ‘n Shake loves bitcoin 

Last week, Steak ‘n Shake disclosed that it had added $10 million worth of bitcoin to its balance sheet, marking one of the more significant treasury allocations to the asset by a consumer-facing restaurant brand. 

The company has also leaned into bitcoin-themed marketing, including the launch of a limited-time “Bitcoin Meal” in October that includes a small donation to open-source bitcoin development.

The hourly bonus rate references bitcoin’s fixed supply cap of 21 million coins, a symbolic nod frequently used in crypto culture. 

At current prices, a worker putting in 30 hours a week would earn roughly $327 worth of bitcoin per year under the program, assuming a stable bitcoin price.

Last year, a company executive said that Bitcoin transactions were already outperforming expectations.

“The day we launched Bitcoin, 1 out of every 500 bitcoin transactions in the world happened at Steak ‘n Shake,” Executive Dan Edwards said at the Bitcoin Conference. 

“Bitcoin is faster than credit cards, and when customers choose to pay in Bitcoin, we’re saving 50% in processing fees,” said Edwards. “That makes Bitcoin a win for the customer, a win for us, and a win for the Bitcoin community.” 

This post Fast-Food Chain Steak ‘n Shake to Pay Hourly Workers a Bitcoin Bonus first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Bitcoin Magazine

Steak ’n Shake Adds $10 Million in Bitcoin to Corporate Treasury

Popular fast-food chain Steak ’n Shake added $10 million worth of bitcoin to its corporate treasury, deepening its commitment to bitcoin eight months after rolling out BTC payments across all U.S. locations.

The company said on social media that the move follows a “self-reinforcing cycle” driven by bitcoin adoption, where customers paying in BTC help generate incremental revenue that is then recycled into business improvements. 

According to Steak ’n Shake, all bitcoin-denominated revenue flows directly into what it calls its strategic bitcoin reserve, which is used to fund restaurant upgrades, ingredient improvements, and remodeling initiatives—without raising menu prices.

“Eight months ago today, Steak ’n Shake launched its burger-to-bitcoin transformation when we started accepting bitcoin payments,” the company wrote on social media. “Our same-store sales have risen dramatically ever since.”

Steak ’n Shake began accepting bitcoin payments in May 2025 using the Lightning Network, positioning the rollout as a way to cut card processing fees while attracting a younger, crypto-native customer base. The strategy is working.

Same-store sales rose more than 10% in the second quarter of 2025, according to the company.

Chief Operating Officer Dan Edwards previously said Steak ’n Shake saves roughly 50% in processing fees when customers choose to pay with bitcoin rather than traditional card networks.

NEW: Fast food giant Steak 'n Shake announces it acquired $10 million #Bitcoin for its Strategic Bitcoin Reserve

"All Bitcoin sales go into our Strategic Bitcoin Reserve." pic.twitter.com/tRlYaOzbtQ

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) January 17, 2026

Bitcoin is driving revenue for Steak ’n Shake

The chain has leaned into its bitcoin branding over the past year, introducing a Bitcoin-themed burger in October and pledging to donate a small portion of revenue from its “Bitcoin Meal” to support open-source Bitcoin development.

The recent $10 million purchase—roughly 105 BTC at current prices—marks Steak ’n Shake’s most direct treasury allocation to bitcoin to date. 

While the position is modest compared with major corporate holders such as Strategy, which holds more than 687,000 BTC worth over $65 billion, it underscores a broader trend of corporate bitcoin accumulation.

According to data from Bitcointreasuries, total bitcoin held in treasuries—including public companies, private firms, governments, and exchange-traded funds—has now surpassed 4 million BTC.

Last fall, the company ran a poll on X over the weekend asking its 468,800 followers whether it should expand its crypto options to include Ethereum.

Nearly 49,000 votes were cast, with 53% in favor.

However, just four hours later, the company suspended the poll, declaring its allegiance to Bitcoiners. “Poll suspended. Our allegiance is with Bitcoiners. You have spoken,” Steak ‘n Shake posted.

This post Steak ’n Shake Adds $10 Million in Bitcoin to Corporate Treasury first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.