Overview
- Hourly staff at company-operated restaurants will accrue $0.21 in Bitcoin per hour starting March 1, with access to the balance only after a two-year vesting period.
- Steak ’n Shake says the Bitcoin bonus is separate from regular wages and benefits and does not change hourly pay rates.
- Fold will provide the technical infrastructure for distribution and custody of the accrued Bitcoin for eligible employees.
- The company recently reported a $10 million increase in notional exposure for its Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, following its policy of directing customer BTC payments into treasury.
- The program follows 2025 Lightning Network adoption that the company says cut processing fees by roughly half and corresponded with double-digit same‑store sales gains, while the bonus announcement drew online criticism over its small size and vesting terms.