Steak ‘n Shake has invested $10 million in Bitcoin. This is part of a strategy that converts daily restaurant cash flow into a corporate Bitcoin treasury. The 90-year-old American restaurant chain credits this Bitcoin-first approach with its financial performance last year.
The company reported double-digit same-store sales growth in 2025. Management says this was the best growth in the industry. They attribute this success directly to becoming a Bitcoin-focused company.
The chain calls its program the “Bitcoin-to-Burger” initiative. It launched in May 2025. The program integrates digital asset accumulation into daily operations. The company accepts Bitcoin payments and markets to the crypto demographic.
Management describes the model as a self-sustaining system. Improved food quality drives higher revenue. That revenue is then channeled into the corporate Bitcoin reserve. All Bitcoin sales go directly into this Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.
The chain is taking a Bitcoin-only stance. A recent corporate poll showed 53% of respondents favored adding Ethereum as a payment option. Leadership explicitly rejected this proposal. This reinforces a maximalist philosophy to secure loyalty from a specific market segment.
The Bitcoin integration also extends to employees. Last October, the company updated its payroll system. It now allows its 10,000 employees to receive a portion of their wages in Bitcoin. This signals the firm’s view of Bitcoin as a viable store of value.
Founded in 1934, Steak ‘n Shake operates hundreds of locations in the United States and internationally. Its latest moves cement its status as an outlier in the traditional dining sector. The company is attempting to modernize a legacy brand by linking its long-term financial health to the performance of Bitcoin.
