Steak ‘n Shake is realizing significant financial benefits from its adoption of Bitcoin, with the company reporting a 50 percent reduction in payment processing fees, which translates to an estimated $6 million in annual savings. The announcement was made by Michael Boes, the company’s chief MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) officer, at the Bitcoin 2026 conference in Las Vegas.
“We’re moving forward with bitcoin – the future of money,” Boes said during his presentation, highlighting the dramatic impact on the restaurant chain’s business performance. Since launching its Bitcoin payment platform on the Lightning Network on May 16, 2025, Steak ‘n Shake has attracted two million new customers and seen same-store sales climb 11 percent in the second quarter of 2025, accelerating to 15 percent in the third quarter.
The savings generated from customers using Bitcoin are being directly reinvested into improving food quality. Boes announced that Steak ‘n Shake is removing microwaves from its kitchens and will switch to 100 percent grass-fed and grass-finished beef across all its locations starting June 1. This move follows a previous switch to using beef tallow for frying french fries, aligning with the company's commitment to the "Make America Healthy Again" movement.
In a move to create a closed-loop Bitcoin economy, all Bitcoin received from customers is added to the company’s strategic reserve, which has grown to $10 million. This reserve funds a Bitcoin bonus program for hourly employees, who receive an additional $0.21 per hour worked. Boes also confirmed he accepts a portion of his executive compensation in Bitcoin, signaling a broader shift in how the company views the cryptocurrency.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.
