Steak ‘n Shake Launches Bitcoin (BTC) Bonus for Employees!

Jakarta, Pintu News – Steak ‘n Shake has launched a new incentive program that ties hourly salary benefits to Bitcoin (BTC), reinforcing the fast food restaurant chain’s commitment to digital assets.

This move aligns employee compensation with the company’s strategy of accepting and storing BTC, both as a payment method and as an asset in the company’s coffers.

How the Bitcoin Program for Employees Works

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Steak ‘n Shake confirmed that the Bitcoin bonus program will begin on March 1, 2026. This incentive applies exclusively to hourly staff at restaurants managed directly by the company.

Read also: American burger chain Steak ‘n Shake buys $10 million worth of Bitcoin!

For every hour worked, employees will receive a bonus in BTC worth 21 cents.

However, the program is designed to encourage long-term loyalty. Employees must remain with the company for two years for the Bitcoin bonus to be “vested” and accessible.

Bitcoin Payments Support Corporate Cash

This new initiative for employees follows recent reports of Steak ‘n Shake’s Bitcoin holdings. The company reported an increase in the face value of their BTC reserves by $10 million.

According to executives, this growth is directly related to customer behavior. Any Bitcoin payments made at checkout will go directly into the company’s strategic reserves, rather than being converted to fiat currency.

The management stated that this policy not only increased customer engagement, but also accelerated the accumulation of Bitcoin on the company’s balance sheet.

Global Launch and Customer Response

Steak ‘n Shake began a global rollout of Bitcoin payments in May 2025, allowing customers to pay with BTC at stores around the world. The program quickly attracted the interest of Bitcoin users, many of whom shared proof of transactions on social media.

At the end of the same year, the company announced expansion plans into El Salvador, citing the country’s pro-Bitcoin environment as the main reason.

Read also: Dogecoin Ready to Enter the Real World with “Such” Payment App

Behind the scenes, transactions are processed through the Lightning Network – a faster and cheaper Bitcoin payment system attributed to Jack Dorsey.

Within two weeks of launch, the company reported that transaction fees dropped by almost 50% compared to conventional card fees, thereby increasing profit margins in the highly competitive fast food industry.

Sales trends also reflect the positive impact of these changes. Sales per store increased 11% in the second quarter of 2025 and 15% in the third quarter, surpassing competitors such as Taco Bell, McDonald’s, and Domino’s.

Bitcoin as a Key Strategy for Business Recovery

These initiatives are key pillars in Steak ‘n Shake’s recovery strategy. The company attributes the use of Bitcoin to lower costs, faster transaction settlement, increased customer traffic, and sales growth.

This approach also strengthens the growing non-cash cash reserves, which management considers a long-term asset. This strategy comes after a difficult period, during which the number of stores in the US fell from a peak of 628 in 2018 to 394 in 2026, following the closure of 230 stores.

Currently, Steak ‘n Shake operates hundreds of restaurants in the US and parts of Europe. The company stated that a Bitcoin-based business model is now at the core of their efforts to stabilize operations and rebuild their brand.

Follow us on Google News to stay up to date with the latest in crypto and blockchain technology. Check Bitcoin price, usdt to idr and tokenized nvidia stock price through Pintu Market.

Enjoy an easy and secure crypto trading experience by downloading the Pintu crypto app via Play Store or App Store now. Also, experience web trading with advanced trading tools such as pro charting, various order types, and portfolio tracker only at Pintu Pro.

*Disclaimer

This content aims to enrich readers’ information. Pintu collects this information from various relevant sources and is not influenced by outside parties. Note that an asset’s past performance does not determine its projected future performance. Crypto trading activities are subject to high risk and volatility, always do your own research and use cold hard cash before investing. All activities of buying and selling Bitcoin and other crypto asset investments are the responsibility of the reader.

Reference:

• CoinSpeaker. Steak ‘n Shake to Offer Bitcoin Bonuses to Employees. Accessed on January 22, 2026
• The Crypto Basic. Steak ‘n Shake Introduces Bitcoin Rewards for Hourly Employees. Accessed on January 22, 2026

*Featured image: Crypto Briefing