I've only ever heard the name, Steak 'n Shake. I know it's a burger joint but not much else besides that. There are no locations particularly close to me. But I have been following the chain's developments when it comes to Bitcoin. Starting in May 2025, the restaurants began accepting BTC as payments via the Lightning Network. Since then, Steak 'n Shake has continued to integrate BTC into its business model.

Don't get too excited if you're noticing the 4 meals under $4 poster hanging in the window of the restaurant pictured above; this image is from 2011. 

But let's flashforward to the present day: January 19, 2026. There's now a specially stamped burger that you can order now. Image comes courtesy of Reddit and the user SpringTraditional460:

Spending sats on a cheeseburger may not seem controversial, but it actually ignites a debate within the BTC community. The debate is a great divide amongst hodlers: never spend your Bitcoin vs. "spend and replace." Essentially, what it boils down to is a question of "money" versus "store of value." Why not both? Really, there is no correct answer. If it makes sense for someone personally to spend a few thousand sats on a cheeseburger, then why not. You can always replace it in your stack later.

At the end of the day, in my eyes, Bitcoin is electronic cash after all. If you should decide its best use is for food, then so be it. If you should decide that it's best use will be sometime in the future, then so be it. There is no right or wrong way to Bitcoin, and it is a personal decision every individual has to make. What will you do with your Bitcoin?

In the case of Steak 'n Shake, they have created a strategic Bitcoin reserve (hmm, sound familiar?). They added $10 million worth of BTC this month to their corporate treasury. The funds will be used to fuel growth and promote Bitcoin. I would be genuinely curious to know how many people, on a given day, are paying for their meals with the Lightning Network. Perhaps it's worth a trip to the nearest Steak 'n Shake to find out!

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