Nikolas Sargeant
Fast-food chain Steak 'n Shake has credited its Bitcoin adoption strategy for driving impressive quarterly sales growth, reporting a 10.7% same-store sales increase in Q2 2025. The company began accepting Bitcoin payments across all eligible locations on May 16, 2025, making cryptocurrency accessible to more than 100 million customers in the US, France, Monaco, and Spain.
The sales performance significantly outpaced major competitors in the fast-food industry, with Steak 'n Shake posting the highest same-store sales growth among America's top chains during the quarter. While rivals like McDonald's, Domino's, and Taco Bell reported growth ranging from -7.1% to 6.1%, Steak 'n Shake's double-digit increase stood out in a challenging market environment.
In the second quarter of 2025, Steak n Shake’s same-store sales increased by 10.7%.
— Steak 'n Shake (@SteaknShake) August 8, 2025
Bitcoin has been a game changer. ⚡️
Thank you Bitcoiners 🧡
Bitcoin, Burgers & Beyond 🚀
Company executives noted immediate benefits from Bitcoin integration beyond customer attraction. Chief Operating Officer Dan Edwards reported that Bitcoin payments reduced processing fees by 50%, creating cost savings that benefit both the merchant and customers. Within two weeks of launch, the impact was already measurable, with Steak 'n Shake accounting for 0.2% of all Bitcoin transactions on its opening day.
The Bitcoin adoption comes as Steak 'n Shake continues rebuilding after significant store closures, with the chain operating 397 US locations as of May 2025, down from a peak of 628 stores in 2018. The company's embrace of cryptocurrency payments appears to be helping drive recovery, with management describing Bitcoin as "a game changer" in their recent social media communications thanking the Bitcoin community for their support.
Growing Momentum for Cryptocurrency Payments
Steak 'n Shake's success reflects a broader trend of mainstream businesses embracing cryptocurrency payments as digital assets gain acceptance. Major payment processors and corporations have been expanding their crypto capabilities throughout 2024 and 2025, signaling growing confidence in digital currency adoption.
PayPal has significantly enhanced its cryptocurrency offerings, with its crypto checkout tool now supporting over 100 tokens, making it easier for merchants and consumers to transact with digital assets. Meanwhile, Square has begun rolling out Bitcoin payment capabilities for merchants, expanding access to cryptocurrency transactions across its extensive merchant network.
The travel and hospitality sector has also embraced crypto payments, with Emirates airline partnering with Crypto.com to enable cryptocurrency payments for booking flights and services. These developments suggest that cryptocurrency payments are transitioning from niche adoption to mainstream business strategy, potentially validating Steak 'n Shake's early move into Bitcoin acceptance as more companies recognize the operational and customer acquisition benefits of supporting digital currencies.
