Steak ‘n Shake Suspends ETH Poll Following Criticism from Bitcoin Supporters

Highlights:

• Steak ‘n Shake has suspended an ETH poll after backlash from the BTC community.
• Steak ‘n Shake has reported a 15% rise in sales after embracing Bitcoin payments in multiple countries.
• Bitcoin supporters influence business choices and can shape the direction of crypto payment adoption.

Steak ‘n Shake has ended its poll on accepting Ether payments after facing strong backlash from Bitcoin supporters. The fast-food chain asked its 468,800 X followers whether it should add ETH as a payment option. Nearly 49,000 votes were cast, with 53% favoring Ether. Despite the results, the company suspended the poll just four hours later.

LATEST:

FAST FOOD GIANT STEAK 'N SHAKE SAYS THEY WILL NO LONGER ACCEPT ETHEREUM PAYMENTS! pic.twitter.com/ws42ihuqFr

— Coinvo (@ByCoinvo) October 13, 2025

The chain posted on X, “Poll suspended. Our allegiance is with Bitcoiners. You have spoken.” This statement highlighted its decision to prioritize existing Bitcoin users. Steak ‘n Shake started accepting Bitcoin payments in May across the U.S., France, Monaco, and Spain. Executives credited the Bitcoin community’s support for a 15% year-on-year rise in same-store sales during the third quarter.

Several Bitcoin advocates criticized the ETH poll. Adam Simecka, creator of the self-custody wallet Manna, warned he would stop dining at the chain if Ether payments were introduced. Influencer Colleen, also known as The Bitcoin Gal, called the poll “disappointing.” Bitcoin developer Carman added that the poll had already hurt the chain’s reputation among loyal supporters.

Oof. I was genuinely excited to bring my sons and my parents to @SteaknShake and spend some sats earlier this year.

But if this is the direction you’re heading, I’ll bow out from giving you our business in the future.

The fact that you even created the ETH poll is…

— Colleen (@thebitcoingal) October 11, 2025

The episode highlights how seriously businesses consider their crypto customer base. Steak ‘n Shake’s rapid response shows the influence Bitcoiners maintain in shaping company decisions. The company’s alignment with Bitcoin users may also protect its recent sales gains.

Steak ‘n Shake Suspends ETH Poll as Crypto Tribalism Influences Decisions

The incident underlines the strong divide between the Bitcoin and Ethereum communities. Many Bitcoin enthusiasts view BTC as the only reliable digital currency. Michael Saylor, well-known Bitcoin advocate, once said, “There is no second-best crypto asset.”

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin suggested that companies adopting crypto should commit to a single community. He emphasized that businesses should avoid trying to satisfy all crypto audiences. This approach is evident in the decision of Steak n Shake to focus on loyal Bitcoiners instead of new users.

Company executives observed that Bitcoin enthusiasts directly impacted recent sales growth. This shows that crypto tribalism can affect revenue and brand loyalty. Payment companies are also pushing into digital currencies, which illustrates broader market trends. To give an example, Mesh incorporated Apple Pay in order to provide crypto payments to merchants. Likewise, Stripe is building a stablecoin, pegged to the U.S. dollar, to conduct transactions globally.

Other leading personalities support the use of Bitcoin in apps. Jack Dorsey suggested that Signal Messenger add Bitcoin support to make peer-to-peer payments. David Marcus, CEO of Lightspark, said non-transactional apps should connect with Bitcoin.

Bitcoin-Themed Promotions Reinforce Brand Identity

Steak ‘n Shake has also announced a “Bitcoin Steakburger” that is set to launch this week. The offer coincides with its sustained belief in Bitcoin payments. This act solidifies the loyalty of the chain to Bitcoin enthusiasts. The firm also sends a message to the market that it cannot lose its crypto identity.

In appreciation of Bitcoiners who helped us achieve QSR leading performance, we are launching the Bitcoin Steakburger on October 16. 🍔🧡⚡️

Steak n Shake’s same-store sales in the third quarter was plus 15%. Here is what we were overlapping.

2025…….15%
2024………2%…

— Steak 'n Shake (@SteaknShake) October 9, 2025

The move would bring in new Bitcoin users and retain the confidence of current clients. By investing further in Bitcoin, Steak n Shake enhances its presence in the expanding digital payment market. The cautious nature of the company reflects the impact of crypto communities on business strategies.