Steak ‘n Shake x Speed: Powering Fast-Food Payments with Lightning

Seamless Bitcoin Payments with Speed

We wanted to make Bitcoin payments the new normal for Steak ‘n Shake. We tailored our solutions to enable effortless adoption of Bitcoin across all service points:

Smooth nationwide rollout

The system-wide implementation has been remarkably successful. Despite a large number of transactions happening every hour across 300+ stores, no issues have been reported so far. This achievement demonstrates both Steak ‘n Shake’s operational excellence and the maturity of Lightning Network as a payment solution.

Why Bitcoin and Lightning Network? The benefits.

Steak n Shake’s adoption isn’t just trendy—it’s strategic. Here’s why Steak ‘n Shake preferred Bitcoin and Lightning Network over other currencies and blockchains:

• Instant transactions: LN’s near-instant settlements eliminate wait times, critical in fast-food settings.
• Low fees: By operating off-chain, the Lightning Network significantly lowers transaction costs, making microtransactions viable. For instance, traditional credit card processing fees range from 1.5% to 3.5% per transaction, depending on the card network and transaction type. In contrast, the Lightning Network’s median fee is approximately 0.022%, offering potential savings of millions of dollars annually.
• Enhanced security: Bitcoin’s decentralized nature and cryptographic security measures protect against fraud and chargebacks. The Lightning Network boasts a payment success rate of 99.7%, underscoring its reliability and security.
• Global accessibility: Accepting Bitcoin opens doors to a broader customer base, including those who prefer or rely on cryptocurrency for transactions. As of 2025, the Lightning Network has reached over 650 million users globally, driven by integrations with major platforms and adoption in emerging markets.
• Fraud prevention: Bitcoin’s irreversible transactions reduce chargeback risks and fraud.

Speed’s contribution: By handling the technical complexities—from API integration to POS customization—Speed ensured a frictionless transition. Their infrastructure not only supports scalability but also offers 24/7 monitoring, ensuring reliability during peak hours.

Community response: A resounding success

The Bitcoin community’s reaction to Steak ‘n Shake’s bold move wasn’t just positive—it was explosive. The original Steak ‘n Shake tweet announcing the rollout gained a lot of traction and engagement from prominent figures like Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Block and Twitter.

Beyond digital applause, the community’s engagement has translated into real-world actions. Bitcoin enthusiasts have organized meetups at various Steak ‘n Shake locations nationwide, celebrating the fusion of fast food and crypto culture.

The bigger picture: Bitcoin meets mainstream commerce

While Bitcoin has long been celebrated as “digital gold,” Steak ‘n Shake’s Lightning Network integration shifts the narrative. By enabling instant, low-fee transactions for burgers and shakes, they’ve tapped into Bitcoin’s lesser-known superpower: it’s money that actually works.

The Lightning Network turns Bitcoin into a practical tool for the real world. A customer paying 5,000 satoshis for a milkshake isn’t just making a purchase—they’re proving that Bitcoin can handle the speed and scale of everyday life. This isn’t speculative; it’s transactional. And with fees 100x lower than traditional card processors, the savings ripple directly to Steak ‘n Shake’s bottom line.

But the real win? Normalization. When a legacy brand with 89 years of history embraces Bitcoin, it sends a signal: Bitcoin isn’t just for tech nerds or volatile trades. It’s for teenagers splitting fries, and shift workers fueling up with coffee—all without Visa or Mastercard taking a cut.

Looking ahead: The future of Crypto payments

Steak ‘n Shake’s bold move may just be the beginning. As an innovative brand, they are poised to continue exploring new ideas to support the adoption of Bitcoin as a payment method.
And the momentum is accelerating. Just days after their nationwide rollout, Steak ‘n Shake confirmed they would be sponsoring The Bitcoin Conference in Las Vegas — the largest gathering of Bitcoin developers, entrepreneurs, and advocates globally.

This move signals deeper alignment with the Bitcoin ecosystem, positioning the brand not just as an adopter but as a vocal advocate of Bitcoin. As more legacy brands take notice, Steak ‘n Shake’s example could inspire others to embrace Bitcoin as a mainstream payment solution.

A call to businesses

Steak n Shake’s success story is a blueprint for the future. Whether you run a dine-in restaurant, a drive-through, or an e-commerce platform, Speed provides the tools to modernize your payments:

• Tailored Solutions: Custom APIs, POS systems, and online integrations.
• Zero Fraud Risk: Leverage Bitcoin’s secure, transparent blockchain.
• Future-Proofing: Stay ahead as digital currency adoption grows.

Conclusion

By marrying bold vision with technical precision, Steak ‘n Shake and Speed have redefined fast-food payments. In a world where 1 in 4 Americans holds crypto, now is the right time to embrace cryptocurrency payments.

By prioritizing speed, efficiency, and customer experience, Steak ‘n Shake set a new standard for the industry. As Bitcoin and Lightning Network redefine payments, the question isn’t if but when other merchants will follow.

Ready to transform your payment system?
Get in touch with our experts to explore how Bitcoin and Lightning can elevate your business.