Steak ’n Shake to Pay Hourly Employees $0.21/hour in Bitcoin Bonuses
Steak ’n Shake announced it will start awarding hourly employees a Bitcoin bonus equivalent to $0.21 per hour worked beginning March 1, 2026. Payments will vest over two years, meaning employees must remain on the payroll to realize the full value. The chain says the bonus will be credited in BTC, with standard wage rules and tax reporting still expected to apply. The move follows a growing number of consumer brands experimenting with crypto-linked compensation and rewards. While the per-hour amount is modest, the program is significant as a mainstream test of crypto payroll mechanics and retention incentives. For workers it introduces exposure to Bitcoin price swings and vesting constraints; for the industry it underscores continued corporate interest in integrating digital assets into employee compensation plans.