On March 7, 2025, the US fast-food chain Steak 'n Shake posted a seemingly simple question on X: “Should Steak ‘n Shake accept bitcoin?” The post quickly exploded beyond a routine social media poll, attracting thousands of replies and the attention of several prominent figures in the Bitcoin ecosystem. Former Twitter CEO and long-time Bitcoin advocate Jack Dorsey as well as Bitcoin Core contributor Luke Dashjr joined the conversation, lending significant credibility to the potential move.
Industry Heavyweights Show Support
Jack Dorsey has been a vocal supporter of Bitcoin for years. His payments company Block (formerly Square) already integrates Bitcoin buying and selling, and he has repeatedly called Bitcoin “the native currency of the internet.” His engagement with Steak ‘n Shake’s poll suggests that a major quick-service restaurant chain is seriously exploring crypto payments. Meanwhile, Luke Dashjr contributed technical insights on the feasibility and security of implementing Bitcoin payments at scale. Their involvement elevated the poll from a mere marketing stunt to a milestone in the interaction between mainstream consumer brands and the crypto community.
Political and Commercial Positioning
Steak ‘n Shake has recently aligned itself with the pro-crypto Trump administration, particularly with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK), a well-known Bitcoin enthusiast. RFK has advocated for including Bitcoin in the U.S. strategic reserve and has criticized central bank digital currencies. On Thursday, the chain posted a futuristic image of a freighter emblazoned with a prominent Bitcoin logo and the tagline “delivering beef tallow on Mars.” This simultaneously references RFK’s love of beef tallow and Elon Musk’s ambition to colonize Mars. The clever mashup of crypto culture and pop-tech references quickly went viral, generating massive organic engagement.
Massive User Base and Potential Impact
Steak ‘n Shake serves more than 100 million customers annually across its nationwide locations. If the chain decides to accept Bitcoin at all outlets, the cryptocurrency would instantly gain a huge real-world use case beyond online trading. Customers could buy burgers and milkshakes with BTC, potentially driving mainstream adoption. While other fast-food giants like Burger King have tested Bitcoin in select regions, Steak ‘n Shake’s high-profile campaign could accelerate industry-wide acceptance of digital currencies as a payment method.
Outlook and Market Reaction
Steak ‘n Shake has not announced a concrete timeline, but the repeated hints suggest the company is seriously evaluating the switch. The Bitcoin community generally responded positively, seeing this as a step toward making Bitcoin a medium of exchange rather than just a store of value. However, analysts caution that the success of such a move depends on solutions like the Lightning Network to handle transaction fees and speed. Regardless, the “Bitcoin vote” by a fast-food chain has already brought cryptocurrency into the spotlight of millions of ordinary consumers.