📌 TOPINDIATOURS Hot crypto: Steak ‘n Shake to Pay Hourly Workers in Bitcoin Starti

Steak ‘n Shake will begin paying all hourly employees at company-operated restaurants a Bitcoin bonus of $0.21 for every hour worked starting March 1, with funds accessible after a two-year vesting period.

The 91-year-old burger chain announced the program through a partnership with Bitcoin rewards app Fold, marking another step in its year-long transformation into what CEO Will Reeves called “a real bitcoin company, putting sound money into the hands of working Americans.“

A full-time minimum wage employee working 40 hours weekly for 30 years could retire with over $3 million if Bitcoin maintains just a 20% annual growth rate, according to Adam Simecka, founder of self-custody wallet Manna.

Under that scenario, workers could start at 16 and retire at 46 without receiving raises or making additional investments beyond the hourly Bitcoin bonus.

Bitcoin Treasury Strategy Drives Double-Digit Sales Growth

The hourly bonus builds on Steak ‘n Shake’s $10 million Bitcoin treasury purchase announced January 18, when the company acquired roughly 105 BTC as its first direct allocation since accepting crypto payments in May 2025.

The chain formalized a “Strategic Bitcoin Reserve” system that channels all customer Bitcoin payments directly into treasury holdings rather than converting them to cash, creating, as executives described, a self-sustaining model tying same-store sales increases to long-term reserve accumulation.

Lightning Network payments enabled across all US locations in mid-May brought transaction fee savings of nearly 50% compared with credit cards, alongside a roughly 15% increase in same-store sales in the months following the launch.

The rollout received public backing from Jack Dorsey, who had enthusiastically endorsed the chain’s Bitcoin adoption plans earlier in the year when the company first polled followers about accepting cryptocurrency.

The company reported $69.3 million in Q2 2025 revenue, a 12% year-over-year increase, with executives crediting Bitcoin users for helping drive a 10.7% quarter-over-quarter rise in same-store performance.

That momentum accelerated into Q3 with 15% growth in same-store sales, outpacing major competitors including McDonald’s, Burger King, Taco Bell, and Starbucks to mark one of the most impressive runs in the fast-food sector.

Community Rewards Program Links Bitcoin to Everyday Spending

Through its partnership with Fold Holdings, launched October 31, Steak ‘n Shake offered customers $5 worth of Bitcoin when purchasing branded items, including the “Bitcoin Burger,” redeemable through the Fold app.

The company pledged to donate 210 satoshis for every “Bitcoin Meal” sold to OpenSats, supporting Bitcoin Core and open-source development, while the limited-time promotion across 400 US locations introduced Bitcoin ownership to everyday consumers through ordinary transactions like grabbing a burger.

“Bitcoin goes mainstream when it starts showing up in everyday life,” Reeves said. “For many people, this will be the first time they ever own Bitcoin – and it will come from something as ordinary as grabbing a burger.“

The treasury strategy tied consumer incentives directly to crypto adoption rather than speculative investment, embedding Bitcoin into the daily habits of American consumers.

Steak ‘n Shake is owned by Biglari Holdings, led by Sardar Biglari, though the parent company has not disclosed whether Bitcoin will play a role in its broader balance-sheet strategy beyond the restaurant operations.

International Expansion and Renewed Bitcoin-Only Commitment

The chain expanded into El Salvador in November after participating in the Bitcoin Histórico event in San Salvador, entering the first country to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender and signaling deeper engagement with the nation’s crypto-centered economy.

The symbolic move followed months of strong financial performance tied to Bitcoin adoption across existing markets in the US, France, Monaco, and Spain.

However, the company briefly faced backlash in October after polling followers about accepting Ether payments, with 53% of nearly 49,000 votes favoring the expansion.

Just four hours later, Steak ‘n Shake abruptly suspended the poll and declared loyalty to Bitcoiners.

“Poll suspended. Our allegiance is with Bitcoiners. You have spoken,” the company posted, reaffirming its commitment to Bitcoin-only payments.

The quick reversal came after prominent Bitcoin advocates, including Simecka, vowed ne…

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🔗 Sumber: cryptonews.com

📌 TOPINDIATOURS Update crypto: Stablecoin Politics Threaten to Derail US Market St

A brewing political fight over stablecoin yields threatens to derail long-awaited US crypto market structure reform.

Recent developments expose deep divisions among banks, crypto firms, and policymakers over who benefits most from the next phase of financial regulation.

Stablecoin Yield Showdown Stalls US Crypto Market Reform

At the center of the dispute is whether crypto platforms should be allowed to offer rewards or yield on stablecoins.

Galaxy CEO Mike Novogratz warns that opposition from the banking lobby could sink the broader legislative effort altogether, even as existing law already permits certain forms of stablecoin yield.

“The dynamics of yield in the stable coin bill are fascinating and might cost the bill. Politics over good policy. Banks don’t want the crypto platforms to be able to give rewards to users (GENIUS, which is law, allows that). If the bill is killed, status quo is what they seem to fear,” Novogratz wrote.

According to Novogratz, banks are more concerned with competition than with consumer protection. Allowing crypto platforms to pay rewards on stablecoins could accelerate deposit outflows from traditional banks, pressuring margins and challenging legacy business models.

“If this is what sidetracks the market structure bill, the big loser will be the US consumer,” he added.

That concern appears to be playing out in Washington. The Senate Banking Committee has delayed progress on the broader CLARITY Act amid intense lobbying from the banking sector.

More than 3,200 bankers have urged lawmakers to close what they describe as a “payment of interest loophole.” They argue that stablecoin rewards could weaken community banks and reduce lending capacity.

Critics say the bill, as currently drafted, tilts the playing field. While banks retain the ability to pay interest on deposits, crypto platforms face tighter restrictions, with rewards allowed only for active participation, such as staking, liquidity provision, or governance.

The result, opponents argue, is regulation that protects incumbents at the expense of competition and consumer choice.

White House–Crypto Rift Deepens as Compromise Collides with Retail Concerns

The standoff has also revealed friction between the White House and the crypto industry. Journalist Brendan Pedersen recently noted that the “white house is still mad at Coinbase,” highlighting unresolved tensions as talks continue behind the scenes.

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong has pushed back on claims of a breakdown, insisting discussions remain constructive and focused on compromise.

Nevertheless, views remain split inside the administration. Patrick Witt, Executive Director of the President’s Council of Advisors for Digital Assets, has warned against letting legislative perfection become the enemy of progress.

“There will be a crypto market structure bill — it’s a question of when, not if,” Witt wrote.

He argued that passing a bill now, under a pro-crypto administration, is preferable to risking harsher rules later.

“You might not love every part of the CLARITY Act, but I can guarantee you’ll hate a future Dem version even more.”

Not everyone agrees. Crypto commentator Wendy O responded that while Witt’s logic may be politically sound, retail investors stand to lose.

Elsewhere, legal experts warn the stakes may be even higher than the current debate suggests. Consensys lawyer Bill Hughes cautioned that punitive crypto regulation does not require another financial crisis.

“There won’t need to be a future financial crisis to see punitive legislation,” he said, warning of “little scalpel cuts hidden in must-pass legislation.”

Beyond stablecoin yields, the CLARITY Act would establish clearer rules for major crypto assets, developer protections, and distinctions between DeFi and TradFi.

In the meantime, however, those reforms remain on hold, caught in a political showdown where banks, lawmakers, and crypto firms are all fighting to shape the future of US digital asset regulation.

The post Stablecoin Politics Threaten to Derail US Market Structure Reform appeared first on BeInCrypto.

🔗 Sumber: www.beincrypto.com