$0.21 BTC per hour! Steak n Shake gives "Bitcoin bonuses" to employees, and you must work for 2 years to receive them.

The “Bitcoin Strategy” of the well-known American fast-food chain Steak n Shake has taken another step forward. The company announced on social platform X on Tuesday that starting from March 1, this year, all company-operated stores will implement a “Bitcoin bonus” system. Hourly employees will earn an additional 0.21 USD in Bitcoin for each hour worked.

Converted, this bonus is approximately 1% of the US federal minimum hourly wage. Although the amount is small, it carries significant symbolic meaning — this is the first time a fast-food industry player is attempting to allow frontline employees to directly exchange “working hours” for cryptocurrency.

Starting March 1, Steak n Shake will give all hourly employees at its company-operated restaurants a Bitcoin bonus of $0.21 for every hour worked.

Employees will be able to collect their Bitcoin pay after a two-year vesting period. Thank you, @Fold_app, for the assist.

We…

— Steak 'n Shake (@SteaknShake) January 20, 2026

However, the so-called “Bitcoin bonus” will not be paid out with wages. Employees must serve the company for at least two years to qualify for it. Assuming a 30-hour workweek and stable Bitcoin prices, employees can accumulate approximately $327 worth of Bitcoin annually.
Steak ’n Shake embracing Bitcoin is not just a passing trend. As early as May 2025, the company had already introduced Bitcoin Lightning Network as a payment option at all its US stores.
Chief Operating Officer Dan Edwards revealed that this integration not only cut card transaction fees in half but also successfully attracted younger customers. According to company data, same-store sales increased by over 10% in Q2 2025, far exceeding expectations.
Later, in October, the company launched a “Bitcoin Burger” featuring the Bitcoin logo, with each sale donating 210 Satoshis (the smallest unit of Bitcoin) to the open-source development community.