Fast food chain Steak ‘n Shake has attributed its rise in same store sales to Bitcoin adoption, same-store sales rising “dramatically” since the rollout.
Steak ‘n Shake started accepting Bitcoin nine months ago with the decision now paying off. The company shared the update in a statement on its X account, highlighting Bitcoin adoption as a contributor to stronger performance across existing locations.
According to the post, all Bitcoin payments are routed directly into the company’s Strategic Bitcoin Reserve rather than being immediately converted to cash.
Steak ’n Shake says those holdings are then used to fund bonus payments for employees, tying its crypto strategy directly to staff incentives. The move positions the chain as one of the few mainstream restaurant brands integrating Bitcoin into both its treasury and compensation model.
Steak ’n Shake says Bitcoin shift has reshaped business in nine months
Steak ‘n Shake says its decision to embrace Bitcoin has reshaped its business over the past nine months.
In a post marking the milestone, the company described the shift as a “burger-to-Bitcoin transformation,” adding that same-store sales have climbed sharply since it began accepting BTC payments.
Earlier this year, Steak ’n Shake also disclosed that it had added $10 million worth of Bitcoin to its corporate treasury. The company describes the strategy as a “self-reinforcing” cycle: customers pay in Bitcoin, stronger sales follow, and the resulting crypto revenue feeds back into its growing Bitcoin reserve.
The approach blends marketing, payments innovation, and treasury management into a single crypto-focused growth strategy.
Steak ’n Shake rolled out Bitcoin payments via lightning network last May
Steak ‘n Shake began accepting Bitcoin payments in May last year through the Lightning Network, a faster and cheaper payment layer built on Bitcoin.
The move quickly showed results, with the company reporting an initial 10 percent rise in same-store sales. Chief Operating Officer Dan Edwards also said the chain saves roughly 50 percent in processing fees when customers pay with cryptocurrency instead of traditional card networks.
In October, Steak ’n Shake leaned further into its crypto strategy by launching a Bitcoin-themed burger.
It also pledged to donate a small portion of proceeds from each “Bitcoin Meal” to support open-source Bitcoin development, tying its marketing efforts to the broader crypto community.