Burger restaurant franchise Steak ‘n Shake has reported that accepting Bitcoin payments has contributed to company growth, achieving double-digit same-store sales gains since the adoption.
In a social media statement on Tuesday, the Indianapolis-based company stated that same-store sales for the current quarter rose by 19% for franchise partners. The firm began accepting Bitcoin payments using the Lightning Network in May 2025.
Alongside accepting the cryptocurrency for transactions, Steak ‘n Shake added Bitcoin to its balance sheet, announcing a $10 million addition to its strategic reserve in January. The company previously considered accepting other cryptocurrencies, but ultimately decided against it following a public poll on X.
Speaking at the Bitcoin 2026 Conference in April, Steak ‘n Shake Chief MAHA Officer Michael Boes highlighted Bitcoin as a core driver of business performance. According to Boes, same-store sales increased by 11% quarter-over-quarter in Q2 2025 and 15% in Q3 2025, outperforming major competitors such as McDonald’s, Taco Bell, and Domino’s.
Boes attributed the financial performance to the efficiency of Bitcoin on the Lightning Network, noting that it offers faster and cheaper transactions than traditional electronic payment methods. While traditional credit card processors typically charge merchants between 2.5% and 3.5% per transaction, accepting Bitcoin allows the restaurant to save roughly 50% on processing fees.
