Steak ’n Shake Introduces Bitcoin Rewards for Hourly Employees

Steak ’n Shake has unveiled a new incentive program that ties hourly pay benefits to Bitcoin, deepening the fast-food chain’s growing commitment to digital assets. 

The move aligns employee compensation with the company’s strategy of accepting and holding BTC as both a payment method and a corporate treasury asset.

Key Points

• Starting March 1, hourly employees will earn $0.21 in Bitcoin per hour under the BTC bonus program.
• Rewards carry a two-year vesting period before employees can access them.
• The initiative is supported by Fold, according to the company.
• Steak ’n Shake reported a $10 million increase in the notional value of its Bitcoin holdings.

How the Employee Bitcoin Program Works

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Steak ’n Shake confirmed that the Bitcoin bonus program begins March 1, 2026. The incentive applies exclusively to hourly staff at company-operated restaurants. For every hour worked, employees earn a fixed BTC-denominated bonus of 21 cents.

However, the program is to encourage long-term retention. Employees must remain with the company for two years before the Bitcoin is vested and becomes accessible.

Bitcoin Payments Feed Corporate Treasury

The new employee initiative follows updates on Steak ’n Shake’s corporate Bitcoin holdings. The company recently reported a $10 million increase in the notional value of its BTC reserve.

According to executives, this growth is directly tied to customer behavior. Every Bitcoin payment made at the register is transferred into a strategic reserve rather than converted into fiat currency.

Management stated that this policy has strengthened customer engagement while accelerating Bitcoin accumulation on the balance sheet.

Global Rollout and Customer Response

Steak ’n Shake began its global Bitcoin rollout in May 2025, enabling BTC payments at locations worldwide. The program quickly gained traction among Bitcoin users, many of whom shared payment confirmations on social media.

Later that year, the company announced plans to expand into El Salvador, citing the country’s pro-Bitcoin environment as a key factor.

Behind the scenes, transactions are processed via the Lightning Network, a faster, cheaper Bitcoin payment system associated with Jack Dorsey.

Within two weeks of launch, the company reported transaction fees almost 50% lower than those of standard card payments, savings that boosted profit margins in the competitive fast-food sector.

Additionally, sales trends reflect the impact of these changes. Same-store sales rose 11% in Q2 2025 and 15% in Q3 2025, outpacing competitors such as Taco Bell, McDonald’s, and Domino’s.

Bitcoin as a Core Turnaround Strategy

Taken together, these initiatives form a central pillar of Steak ’n Shake’s turnaround plan. The company credits its adoption of Bitcoin for lower fees, faster settlements, increased customer traffic, and higher sales.

The approach also bolsters a growing non-cash treasury reserve, which management views as a long-term asset. This strategy follows years of contraction, as U.S. locations fell from a peak of 628 in 2018 to 394 by 2026, after 230 closures.

Today, Steak ’n Shake operates hundreds of restaurants across the U.S. and parts of Europe. The company says its Bitcoin-focused model is now central to stabilizing operations and rebuilding the brand.