The American fast-food chain Steak ’n Shake announced a new wage policy on March 1, introducing an optional Bitcoin bonus for its hourly workers across its U.S. operations. The company confirmed that all hourly employees will earn an additional $0.21 per hour in Bitcoin, a figure symbolically tied to Bitcoin's fixed supply cap of 21 million coins.
The bonus, which started on March 1, is designed to supplement, not replace, an employee's base wages. According to the company's statement, the initiative is part of a broader strategy to become a “maximum-wage employer” within its communities, aiming to attract skilled workers and maintain service standards. Alongside the Bitcoin bonus, Steak ’n Shake offers a $1,000 contribution to Trump Accounts for employees’ children.
Employees will earn the Bitcoin incrementally with each hour worked, allowing for gradual accumulation. The company stated that workers may choose to hold the Bitcoin or convert it to cash after payout, though specific custody providers or payout mechanics were not disclosed in the announcement. The firm positioned the move primarily as a workforce incentive and engagement tool, linking it to Bitcoin's cultural significance around scarcity, rather than citing specific market conditions or price expectations.
