Steak n Shake is offering hourly employees a bitcoin (BTC) bonus of $0.21 for every hour worked, the company said Tuesday in a post on X. The new policy applies to staff at all company-operated locations starting March 1, and rewards will vest after two years. The bonus — equivalent to roughly 1% of the federal minimum wage — is the fast-food chain’s latest move in a broader embrace of bitcoin that began in May 2025, when it started accepting BTC payments via the Lightning Network at all U.S. locations. ...

Core Insights - Steak 'n Shake, a 91-year-old burger chain, is significantly advancing its adoption of cryptocurrency by accepting Bitcoin payments globally since May 2025 and has recently added $10 million worth of Bitcoin to its balance sheet in 2026 [1][2] Group 1: Bitcoin Adoption and Financial Impact - The company reported a nearly 50% reduction in transaction fees by accepting Bitcoin payments through the Lightning Network, compared to traditional credit card processing [3][4] - Steak 'n Shake experienced a 15% increase in same-store sales attributed to its crypto-friendly customer base [3] Group 2: Expansion of Bitcoin Initiatives - In October 2025, the company launched a limited-edition Bitcoin Steakburger and introduced a rewards program in collaboration with Fold Holdings, allowing customers to earn Bitcoin rewards [5][6] - The promotion for the Bitcoin Steakburger enables customers to earn $5 in Bitcoin through the Fold App, which is available at approximately 400 U.S. locations [6]

Core Insights - Steak 'n Shake has added $10 million worth of bitcoin to its corporate treasury, continuing its engagement with cryptocurrency after eight months of accepting BTC payments at all U.S. locations [1][4] Group 1: Corporate Strategy - The addition of bitcoin to the treasury is part of a "self-reinforcing" cycle where customers pay in bitcoin, leading to increased sales, with all crypto revenue directed into the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR) [2] - The funds from the SBR are utilized for upgrades such as better ingredients and restaurant remodels without raising menu prices [2] Group 2: Financial Performance - Since the acceptance of bitcoin payments began in May last year, same-store sales have increased dramatically, with a reported rise of more than 10% in Q2 2025 [3][4] - The company saves approximately 50% in processing fees when customers opt to pay in bitcoin [4] Group 3: Product Innovation and Community Engagement - In October, Steak 'n Shake introduced a Bitcoin-themed burger and started donating a portion of each Bitcoin Meal to open-source Bitcoin development [4] Group 4: Market Context - While the $10 million investment in bitcoin is modest compared to larger companies, it reflects ongoing corporate accumulation of bitcoin, with total bitcoin held in treasuries now exceeding 4 million [5]