Steak ‘n Shake Drops Ether Payment Plans After Bitcoin Loyalists Push Back

A fresh front has opened in crypto’s ongoing culture war — and this time, it’s at the checkout counter.

Steak ‘n Shake has scrapped its plans to accept Ethereum (ETH) payments after a fierce backlash from Bitcoin (BTC) supporters, exposing the deep-rooted tribal divide that continues to shape the digital asset world.

The 90-year-old American fast-food chain, which began accepting Bitcoin in May, declared its allegiance to Bitcoiners after a social media storm erupted over its proposal to expand crypto payment options.

The controversy began when Steak ‘n Shake launched a poll on X asking its 468,800 followers whether it should start accepting ETH alongside BTC. The poll quickly drew nearly 49,000 votes — with 53% voting “yes” — before the company abruptly shut it down just four hours later.

“Poll suspended. Our allegiance is with Bitcoiners. You have spoken.”

The sharp reversal was induced by several harsh critics, who beraded the company for even thinking about this idea. Adam Simecka, founder of the self-custody wallet Manna, vowed to boycott the restaurant if it accepted ETH. He adds

"The fact that you even created the ETH poll is disappointing."

Developer Carman adds that the company had already damaged its credibility with the Bitcoin community by making these polls.

The uproar illustrates just how entrenched crypto tribalism has become. For Bitcoin purists, BTC isn’t just a currency — it’s a personal movement. And everyone should only commit to that one movement that they believe in.

This thought was echoed by Ethereum co-founder, Vitalik Buterin, who suggested that businesses adopting crypto should commit to one community rather than trying to please everyone.

"We need the stubborn ones who believe in their cause and their tribe."

Standing with The Bitcoin Camp

The fact that the company chose to stay compromised just because of the words of its Bitcoin customers also showed the importance of the currency for the company.

Since rolling out BTC payments across its U.S., French, Monegasque, and Spanish outlets, Steak ‘n Shake has seen a 15% year-over-year boost in same-store sales during the third quarter.

Executives credited Bitcoiners for the uptick, suggesting the brand was unwilling to risk alienating its most passionate supporters.

Steak ‘n Shake now appears to be embracing its role as a Bitcoin-first brand. The company plans to debut a “Bitcoin Steakburger” on October 16 to celebrate its continued adoption of BTC payments.

Meanwhile, the broader crypto payments industry is pushing ahead. In May, fintech platform Mesh integrated Apple Pay support for crypto transactions, while Stripe announced plans for a USD-backed stablecoin targeting international businesses.

And earlier this year, Jack Dorsey and David Marcus urged apps like Signal Messenger to integrate Bitcoin payments, reinforcing BTC’s growing dominance in digital commerce.

For Steak ‘n Shake, the message from the crypto battlefield was unmistakable: Bitcoin reigns supreme — and there’s no room for second place.