Steak ‘n Shake has marked eight months since integrating Bitcoin payments across its U.S. restaurant locations, reporting a notable rise in store sales since the launch. The company has committed all Bitcoin received from customer transactions into its Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR), a treasury system designed to accumulate the cryptocurrency directly from operational sales rather than external purchases.
According to the restaurant chain, the SBR functions as a self-sustaining system: sales from Bitcoin payments are fed directly into the reserve. At the same time, ongoing improvements in food quality are aimed at expanding the brand’s reach.
The company announced that it has increased its Bitcoin exposure by $10 million in notional value, reflecting its continued investment in the digital asset alongside everyday operations.
The SBR is structured to retain all Bitcoin received from burger and milkshake payments, differentiating it from firms that acquire cryptocurrency through fundraising or speculative purchases. The chain reports that the combination of rising same-store sales and the automatic allocation of Bitcoin to the reserve forms a cyclical growth model that strengthens both operational revenue and digital asset holdings.
Steak ‘n Shake has also partnered with Bitcoin services firm Fold to introduce a limited-time promotion. Customers purchasing the Bitcoin steakburger or Bitcoin meal at nearly 400 U.S. locations can claim $5 in Bitcoin by submitting their receipts via the Fold app.
As part of the program, the chain has pledged to donate 210 sats (approximately $0.23) from each Bitcoin meal to OpenSats, a public charity supporting open-source contributors in the Bitcoin ecosystem. Fold CEO Will Reeves confirmed that the promotion builds on prior initiatives in which the firm provided Bitcoin rewards for Steak ‘n Shake gift card purchases through its app.
Steak ‘n Shake’s adoption of Bitcoin payments began earlier in 2025 and has been attributed as a contributing factor to the chain’s year-over-year sales growth. By combining operational revenue with direct cryptocurrency accumulation, the restaurant has created a model that blends traditional retail operations with strategic asset management.
Related: Vitalik Buterin “Respects” Steak ‘n Shake’s Decision Not to Adopt ETH for Payments
