American fast-food chain Steak ’n Shake is taking a bold step into the world of cryptocurrency. Starting May 16, customers across all U.S. locations will be able to pay for their burgers, milkshakes, and fries using Bitcoin.
The company made the announcement on May 9 through its official X (formerly Twitter) account, telling its over 100 million customers that “the movement is just beginning” and signing off as “Steaktoshi.”
The rollout follows weeks of speculation and teasing on social media. Back in March, Steak ’n Shake had posted a simple question: “Should Steak ’n Shake accept Bitcoin?” That post quickly caught the attention of the crypto community, including tech entrepreneur and Bitcoin supporter Jack Dorsey, who responded with an enthusiastic “yes.”
Since then, the company has ramped up its crypto messaging, sharing Bitcoin-themed visuals and references to Tesla and Elon Musk. In one post, the brand even shared a picture of a spaceship headed to Mars with the Bitcoin logo stamped on it—tying together themes of crypto, innovation, and the future.
This isn’t just a clever marketing campaign. Steak ’n Shake is now one of the few major fast-food chains in the U.S. to fully adopt cryptocurrency payments at scale. And unlike high-end retailers with bigger margins, fast-food chains run on volume and tight profit lines, making the situation a real-world stress test for Bitcoin’s speed, cost, and everyday usability.
The move puts Steak ’n Shake in the same league as a handful of other restaurant brands experimenting with crypto. Chipotle has accepted nearly 100 cryptocurrencies since 2022 via the Flexa payment network.
Since 2013, Subway has been testing Bitcoin, and Pizza Hut started accepting it in El Salvador after the country declared it legal tender. Even McDonald’s accepts Bitcoin in some international locations, including Lugano, Switzerland.
The timing is notable too. The announcement comes just days before Bitcoin Pizza Day on May 22, which marks the first known BTC transaction for a real-world item—10,000 BTC for two pizzas back in 2010. Those coins would now be worth over a billion dollars.
With Steak ’n Shake entering the crypto world, Bitcoin just got one step closer to becoming a true everyday currency.
