Steak ’n Shake Announces Bitcoin Rewards for Employees, Requiring Two Years of Service to Unlock

Odaily News: American restaurant chain Steak ’n Shake has announced plans to reward employees with Bitcoin, but the associated Bitcoin cannot be used immediately during the vesting period. Employees must work continuously at the company for two full years before they can unlock, transfer, or sell their accumulated Bitcoin. This mechanism is similar to the vesting arrangements found in stock incentive plans.

The report states that at the current Bitcoin price level, an employee working approximately 30 hours per week could receive Bitcoin rewards equivalent to about $327 per year. This reward mechanism is not distributed instantly but is implemented through a deferred access model.

The launch of this policy comes less than a year after Steak ’n Shake began accepting payments via the Bitcoin Lightning Network in May of last year. The company stated at the time that transaction fees dropped by nearly half within just two weeks of enabling Bitcoin payments. Beyond payment scenarios, the company is also actively expanding into the crypto asset space, including sponsoring the Bitcoin 2025 conference and adding approximately $10 million worth of Bitcoin to its balance sheet to build its "Bitcoin Strategic Reserve."

Steak ’n Shake also launched a Bitcoin-themed meal combo last October, with each "Bitcoin Meal" contributing a small donation to projects supporting Bitcoin's open-source development.

On the operational front, the company has been continuously adjusting its business in recent years. Its number of U.S. locations has decreased from over 600 in 2018 to around 400 by the end of 2025, with a gradual shift towards a fast-food model centered on franchise partnerships and self-service ordering, while retaining the brand's iconic retro style.