Like a flash meals restaurant and recent Bitcoin believer Steak ‘n Shake is now no longer appealing ahead with plans to settle for Ethereum for funds, abandoning ETH-particular poll results following pushback from outspoken Bitcoiners.
The firm initially achieve ran a poll on X—where it has over 500,000 followers—asking whether or no longer or no longer it ought to restful settle for ETH as a brand recent fee possibility for meals at its eating locations, telling followers it might per chance well well “abide by the outcomes of the poll.”
Nevertheless after almost 50,000 votes that were collectively 53% in prefer of adding ETH funds, the restaurant closed the poll and subsequently squashed any opinion that ETH might per chance well well per chance join Bitcoin as an permitted forex at the franchise.
“Poll suspended. Our allegiance is with Bitcoiners,” the memoir posted. “That you would be in a position to well merely have spoken.”
Poll suspended. Our allegiance is with Bitcoiners. That you would be in a position to well merely have spoken. Who even allowed this? I’m support at my desk.
– Steaktoshi https://t.co/4RkASUVa8L
— Steak ‘n Shake (@SteaknShake) October 12, 2025
Having a seek through the replies of the fashioned poll publish, the chain had confronted extreme backlash from Bitcoin maximalists, some of whom claimed they’d beneath no conditions return to the eating locations if the corporate shifted some distance from Bitcoin exclusivity.
“You’d wish to rebrand to Soy ‘n Shake,” answered Michael Goldstein, president of the Bitcoin-centric Satoshi Nakamoto Institute.
Steak ‘n Shake finest confronted extra pushback after killing the Ethereum poll, as crypto neighborhood participants chided the firm for no longer indubitably honoring the outcomes and caving to opposed Bitcoin maxis. Interestingly, alternatively, Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin supported its detraction.
“It’s some distance a exquisite determination and I recognize it,” posted Buterin on X. “No longer every trade needs to be attempting to charm to [as] many customers as doubtless in the name of ‘no longer being maximalist.’ We need the stubborn ones who take into consideration in their trigger and their tribe and discover their work as a labor of prefer to it.”
Steak ‘n Shake rolled out Bitcoin funds to its U.S. areas in Would possibly per chance perhaps, permitting customers to aquire burgers and milkshakes with BTC. Since that time, its franchise areas have considered strong sales divulge, alongside side greater than a 10% enhance to similar-retailer sales in Q2—something it credits the Bitcoin neighborhood with supporting.
The chain no longer too lengthy ago indicated that Q3 similar-retailer sales boosts were even stronger, main it to originate a “Bitcoin Steakburger” with an anticipated originate of October 16. It’s no longer but particular what the crypto twist will doubtless be for the menu merchandise.
Within the 2nd quarter of 2025, Steak n Shake’s similar-retailer sales increased by 10.7%.
Bitcoin has been a sport changer. ⚡️
Thanks Bitcoiners 🧡
Bitcoin, Burgers & Beyond 🚀
— Steak ‘n Shake (@SteaknShake) August 8, 2025
Assorted meals and beverage firms, care for Starbucks and Chipotle, have trialled digital asset fee aspects up to now, but don’t have any longer caught to firm, company-large integrations care for Steak ‘n Shake.
Beyond accepting BTC for its meals and drinks, the firm will allow those drawn to opening a franchise blueprint to attain so by paying charges in Bitcoin, as successfully, its COO Dan Edwards launched at the Bitcoin Convention in Would possibly per chance perhaps.
A representative for Steak n’ Shake did no longer straight acknowledge to Decrypt’s demand for comment.
