Steak ‘n Shake plans to offer bitcoin bonuses to hourly employees at company-operated locations, positioning the program as a retention tool.
The company said in an X post:
“Hourly employees will be able to collect a Bitcoin bonus of $0.21 per worked hour starting March 1, with a two-year vesting period.”
How the bonus works
At $0.21 per hour, a full-time employee working 40 hours per week would earn about $8.40 in bitcoin weekly.
That comes to roughly $437 per year on a 52-week schedule.
Steak ‘n Shake said the program is supported by Fold, a bitcoin rewards and payments company.
Younger workforce, shifting sentiment
The announcement comes alongside survey data cited by the company.
A recent OKX survey found 40% of Gen Z and 41% of millennials reported high trust in bitcoin platforms, compared with 9% of baby boomers.
An April 2025 National Restaurant Association demographics brief said about 40% of restaurant and foodservice workers are under 25, and 60% are under 35.
Bitcoin payments and corporate holdings
Steak ‘n Shake has accepted bitcoin payments across its restaurant network since May 2025.
It also disclosed on Friday that it holds about $10 million in bitcoin, and said same-store sales have “risen dramatically” since introducing BTC payments.
