Steak ‘n Shake May Abandon Ether Payment Plans After Pushback From Bitcoin Community

• Steak ‘n Shake suspended an ETH payments poll after Bitcoin community backlash.

• The poll recorded 48,815 votes, with 53% favoring Ether (ETH) acceptance before suspension.

• Steak ‘n Shake reports Q3 same-store sales rose 15% year‑on‑year and cites Bitcoin adoption among customers as a contributing factor.

Steak ‘n Shake Ether poll reversal: Steak ‘n Shake suspends ETH payment poll after Bitcoin backlash — read the facts and what comes next.

What happened with Steak ‘n Shake’s Ether payments poll?

Steak ‘n Shake Ether payments poll: the fast‑food chain asked followers on X whether it should accept Ether, recorded 48,815 votes with 53% in favor, then suspended the poll after vocal opposition from Bitcoin supporters and said its “allegiance is with Bitcoiners.”

Why did Steak ‘n Shake suspend the Ether poll and what were the main reactions?

Steak ‘n Shake launched a public poll on X (formerly Twitter) asking its 468,800 followers whether it should accept Ether as a payment option. The poll showed a narrow majority in favor but was suspended roughly four hours after posting due to intense backlash from prominent members of the Bitcoin community. Critics argued that expanding beyond Bitcoin could alienate a customer base credited with helping drive recent sales gains. Notable public responses included a statement from Adam Simecka, builder of the Bitcoin self‑custody wallet Manna, who said he would stop patronizing the chain if ETH were accepted, and a comment from a high‑profile Bitcoin community member known as The Bitcoin Gal, calling the poll “disappointing.” Vitalik Buterin, one of Ethereum’s founders, commented in defense of a business choosing a focused crypto stance, saying, “We need the stubborn ones who believe in their cause and their tribe and see their work as a labor of love to it.”

Steak ‘n Shake quickly retracted the idea of accepting Ether as a payment after Bitcoiners slammed its poll asking the community if it should.

Steak ‘n Shake has reversed course on a potential plan to accept Ether payments after several Bitcoiners balked at the idea of the fast food chain expanding beyond BTC.

Steak ‘n Shake asked its 468,800 X followers whether it should accept Ether (ETH) on Saturday, promising to “abide by the results of the poll.” The poll saw 53% of 48,815 votes go for “Yes,” but the fast-food chain suspended it around four hours later due to backlash.

“Poll suspended. Our allegiance is with Bitcoiners. You have spoken,” it said on X.

Source: Steak ‘n Shake

Steak n’ Shake started accepting Bitcoin as payment on May 16 in all of its locations where permitted by law, including the US, France, Monaco, and Spain. In the third quarter, Steak n’ Shake reported a 15% year‑on‑year increase in same‑store sales, partially attributing the rise to support from Bitcoin customers.

The episode underscores persistent crypto tribalism: many Bitcoin advocates regard Bitcoin as the sole sound crypto money, citing figures like Michael Saylor who has said, “There is no second‑best crypto asset, there’s a crypto asset and it’s called Bitcoin.” That sentiment helps explain the swift and public reaction when a Bitcoin‑friendly brand appears to consider alternatives.

Source: Ben Justman

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Steak ‘n Shake officially decide against accepting Ether?

Steak ‘n Shake suspended the poll and published a message indicating its “allegiance is with Bitcoiners.” The company did not issue a formal policy statement permanently ruling out ETH; it paused the public vote and signaled deference to its Bitcoin-supporting customers. Official company announcements and prior statements remain the primary source for any final policy.

How many votes were cast and what was the poll result?

The X poll attracted 48,815 votes, with 53% in favor of accepting Ether. The poll was suspended roughly four hours after posting due to controversy within the community and high-profile criticism.

Key Takeaways

• Community influence: The Bitcoin community’s reaction directly influenced Steak ‘n Shake to pause an ETH acceptance poll.
• Sales context: Steak n’ Shake reported a 15% rise in same‑store sales in Q3 and has credited Bitcoin adopters with helping growth.
• Brand positioning: Businesses adopting crypto payments may face pressure to align publicly with a specific crypto “tribe”; expect firms to weigh community sentiment when expanding payment options.

Conclusion

Steak ‘n Shake’s suspension of its Ether poll highlights how consumer communities can shape a merchant’s crypto strategy. The episode—documented via the public X poll, company messages, and community responses—shows that accepting crypto payments is not only a technical or legal decision but a reputational one. COINOTAG will continue to monitor official company statements and X posts for updates; readers should refer to Steak n’ Shake’s own announcements and public social posts for confirmation of any final policy changes. Published: 2025-10-13 • Updated: 2025-10-13 • Author: COINOTAG.