Bitcoin for Burgers? Steak ‘n Shake Joins the Crypto Payment Revolution

Bitcoin Hits the Drive-Thru: Steak ‘n Shake Launches Crypto Payments

Bitcoin for Burgers? American fast food chain Steak ‘n Shake has officially announced that it will begin accepting BTC as a form of payment across all its locations beginning May 16. In a May 9 post on X (formerly Twitter), the company shared the news with its more than 100 million customers, declaring, “The movement is just beginning,” and signing off playfully as “Steaktoshi.”

The move follows a series of Bitcoin-themed marketing efforts, including Tesla giveaways and cryptic social media posts. The company first teased the idea back in March, asking, “Should Steak ‘n Shake accept BTC?”—a question that quickly attracted engagement from the crypto community, including Jack Dorsey, who responded with a simple “yes.”

Bitcoin Adoption in Fast Food Expands

By fully integrating crypto payments, Steak ‘n Shake joins a small but growing list of fast food brands embracing digital currencies. Since 2022, Chipotle has accepted nearly 100 cryptocurrencies, including Ethereum (ETH) and Solana (SOL), via the Flexa network. Subway was one of the earliest adopters, piloting BTC payments as early as 2013.

Other notable examples include KFC’s “Bitcoin Bucket” campaign in Canada in 2018, and McDonald’s accepting BTC in Lugano, Switzerland. Burger King has also embraced crypto in countries like Germany, the Netherlands, and Venezuela. In September, Donald Trump made headlines for using Bitcoin to pay for burgers in New York.

A Nod to Crypto History

The announcement also resonates with crypto history. On May 22, 2010, Laszlo Hanyecz made the first real-world Bitcoin transaction, spending 10,000 BTC (worth ~$40 at the time) to buy two pizzas—an event now celebrated as Bitcoin Pizza Day. Today, those coins would be worth over $1 billion.

With Steak ‘n Shake stepping into crypto payments, BTC’s presence in everyday commerce continues to grow.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Cryptocurrencies and stocks, particularly in micro-cap companies, are subject to significant volatility and risk. Please conduct thorough research before making any investment decisions.