Bitcoin payments halve fees, lift Steak ’n Shake sales 10.7%
Steak ’n Shake began accepting Bitcoin payments on May 16 across its US, France, Monaco and Spain outlets. Within two weeks, the chain cut transaction fees by 50% and reported a 10.7% quarter-on-quarter same-store sales rise in Q2 2025 – outpacing rivals like McDonald’s and Taco Bell.
On launch day, its locations accounted for 0.2% of global Bitcoin transactions, reaching over 100 million customers. The trial underscores growing retail adoption of Bitcoin payments, echoing earlier initiatives such as Overstock’s 2014 pilot and luxury brands’ crypto integrations. Despite only about 2,300 US merchants accepting Bitcoin today, surveys show rising consumer interest. Reduced processing costs, new customer segments and high average crypto order values suggest long-term gains for retailers and bullish trading sentiment for Bitcoin.
Bullish
Steak ’n Shake’s adoption of Bitcoin payments is likely to have a bullish effect on Bitcoin’s price. In the short term, the notable reduction in transaction fees and increased merchant utility can drive higher transaction volumes and positive trading sentiment. The 0.2% share of global Bitcoin transactions on launch day and a significant same-store sales increase demonstrate practical demand growth. In the long term, growing retail adoption and new customer segments suggest sustained on-chain activity and broader acceptance, which historically supports price appreciation. This combination of cost savings and market expansion for Bitcoin payments contributes to a positive outlook for Bitcoin trading.