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Steak ’n Shake Touts ‘Dramatic’ Sales Lift After 9 Months of Bitcoin Payments

The chain is channeling crypto receipts into a corporate reserve used for hourly Bitcoin bonuses, but the reported gains remain company claims without independent verification.

Overview

  • Steak ’n Shake says same-store sales have risen sharply since it began taking Bitcoin via the Lightning Network in May 2025.
  • Bitcoin receipts are directed to a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve that the company says funds employee bonus payouts in BTC with a multi‑year vesting schedule.
  • Multiple outlets, citing BitcoinTreasuries, report the reserve holds roughly 161 BTC valued at about $11 million.
  • The company disclosed additional Bitcoin exposure in January, describing notional additions totaling about $10–$15 million tied to the reserve.
  • Executives previously cited an initial roughly 10% sales uplift and about 50% lower processing costs on crypto payments, while critics continue to press for third‑party proof linking Bitcoin acceptance to the sales increase.