Product used
Checkout links
Reach
Global
Type
Enterprise
Increase in revenue
15%
New Bitcoin-paying users
20%
Challenge
Maxim relied solely on credit card payments in USD for recurring subscriptions, which limited options for Bitcoin users and added friction for international readers who faced foreign exchange fees and card declines. The team wanted a Bitcoin-first experience that allowed subscribers to pay directly in Bitcoin via the Lightning Network, without rebuilding its subscription infrastructure from scratch. At the same time, any new payment method had to integrate seamlessly with SimpleCirc, Maxim’s subscription management software, so that customer data, renewals, and reporting all remained in one place.
Solution
Speed enabled Maxim to add Bitcoin payments using ready-to-use checkout links, so the team could start accepting Bitcoin Lightning payments without deploying a custom gateway or writing complex payment logic. Speed worked with Maxim’s developers to connect checkout links to their existing SimpleCirc subscription flows, using SimpleCirc’s integration and API capabilities to keep subscriber records, plan details, and renewals automatically in sync. Within two weeks, the full setup was live: Maxim could generate Bitcoin checkout links per plan, embed them in its subscription pages, and have every successful payment flow straight into SimpleCirc with the correct subscriber profile and term.
Result
Steak ’n Shake’s rollout of Speed-powered crypto payments at Acrelec kiosks quickly proved the model as transactions became faster, lines moved quicker, and customers chose the option more often than expected. Early data show a strong lift in throughput and a meaningful increase in completed kiosk payments during peak hours.
Seamless checkout experience:
Subscribers can pay in Bitcoin over Lightning using simple checkout links, without redirects or complex third-party flows.
Maxim can prominently feature Bitcoin as a primary payment option while continuing to support conventional card users.
Faster integration, lower overhead:
End‑to‑end rollout, including LN support and the connection to SimpleCirc, was completed in about two weeks.
The team retained its existing billing logic and subscription structure, reducing engineering effort and operational complexity.
Growth and efficiency at scale
LN Bitcoin payments account for roughly 20% of new subscription sign‑ups, strongest in regions with weaker card rails.
Overall subscription revenue improved by an estimated 15%, with over 5 million active subscriptions now managed on a single, unified stack.
Greg Zimny
VP, Marketing & Creative Services
