Bitcoin News Today: Steak 'n Shake's Bitcoin Loyalty Sparks Crypto's Maximalist Firestorm

Steak 'n Shake's abrupt reversal on a potential plan to accept Ethereum (ETH) payments has ignited a fierce debate within the cryptocurrency community, underscoring deep-seated divisions between Bitcoin maximalists and Ethereum advocates. The fast-food chain launched a public poll on X (formerly Twitter) asking its 468,800 followers whether it should expand crypto payments beyond Bitcoin. Despite 53% of 48,815 votes favoring ETH adoption, the poll was suspended within four hours amid backlash from prominent Bitcoin supporters, who accused the company of betraying its core customer base .

Bitcoin maximalists, including Adam Simecka, creator of the Bitcoin self-custody wallet Manna, and "The Bitcoin Gal" Colleen, condemned the move. Simecka vowed to stop patronizing the chain if ETH were accepted, while Colleen called the poll "disappointing," arguing it harmed Steak 'n Shake's reputation . The company's decision to abandon the ETH initiative aligns with its May 2025 rollout of Bitcoin payments, which it credits for a 15% year-on-year rise in same-store sales during Q3 .

The controversy drew unexpected support from Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, who praised Steak 'n Shake's "principled move" to prioritize Bitcoiners. In a X post, Buterin argued that businesses should remain "stubborn" to their chosen cause rather than seek broad appeal, stating, "We need the stubborn ones who believe in their tribe and see their work as a labor of love" . His comments reinforced a broader philosophical rift: Bitcoin maximalists view Bitcoin as the sole viable digital currency, a sentiment echoed by MicroStrategy's Michael Saylor, who famously declared, "There is no second-best crypto asset" .

Steak 'n Shake's Bitcoin-first stance has resonated with a customer base that appears to value ideological alignment as much as convenience. Since adopting Bitcoin, the chain reported processing over 120,000 transactions via the Lightning Network, with processing fees halved compared to traditional methods . CEO Dan Edwards highlighted the shift as a "win for customers, merchants, and the Bitcoin community" during the Bitcoin 2025 conference .

The incident reflects a larger challenge for businesses navigating crypto adoption: balancing innovation with community expectations. While some argue that accepting multiple cryptocurrencies could broaden customer reach, Bitcoin maximalists insist that diluting the message risks alienating core supporters. This tension is not unique to Steak 'n Shake; similar debates have flared at other brands, including Chipotle and Subway, which have experimented with crypto payments .

As the crypto landscape evolves, the interplay between brand loyalty and technological pragmatism will remain critical. For now, Steak 'n Shake's decision to double down on Bitcoin has solidified its position within the crypto-native community-even as it leaves the door open for future shifts. With Vitalik Buterin's endorsement and a 10.7% Q2 sales surge attributed to Bitcoin adoption , the chain's strategy appears to be paying off, at least for now.

Source: [1] Steak 'N Shake U-Turns on ETH Payment Idea - Cointelegraph (https://cointelegraph.com/news/steak-n-shake-u-turns-eth-payments)

[2] Steak 'n Shake May Abandon Ether Payment Plans After Pushback ... (https://en.coinotag.com/steak-n-shake-may-abandon-ether-payment-plans-after-pushback-from-bitcoin-community/)

[3] Steak n Shake ETH Payments Poll Suspended Amid Backlash (https://www.economijournal.com/steak-n-shake-eth-payments-poll-suspended-amid-backlash/)

[4] Bitcoin Community Pushes Back – Vitalik Supports Steak 'n Shake ... (https://cryptojist.com/vitalik-bitcoin-community-backlash-eth-payment-pause-steak-n-shake/)

[5] Steak 'n Shake Suspends ETH Poll, Declares Allegiance to Bitcoin ... (https://www.coinsurges.com/steak-n-shake-suspends-eth-poll-declares-allegiance-to-bitcoin-vitalik-buterin-backs-decision/)

[6] Steak 'n Shake's Sales Surge Thanks to Bitcoin Adoption (https://hodlfm.com/business/steak-n-shakes-sales-surge-thanks-to-bitcoin/)

[7] Steak 'n Shake Credits Bitcoin for 11% Q2 Sales Surge (https://bitbo.io/news/steak-n-shake-bitcoin-sales/)

[8] Steak 'n Shake Reveals Bitcoin Payment Success At (https://bitcoinmagazine.com/news/steak-n-shake-reveals-bitcoin-payment-success-at-bitcoin-2025-conference)

[9] Over 100M Customers Can Now Pay in Bitcoin as ... (https://www.cryptoninjas.net/news/over-100m-customers-can-now-pay-in-bitcoin-as-steak-n-shake-goes-full-crypto/)

[10] Vitalik Buterin "Respects" Steak 'n Shake's Decision Not to Adopt ... (https://coinedition.com/vitalik-buterin-respects-steak-n-shakes-decision-not-to-adopt-eth-for-payments/)

[11] Vitalik Buterin "Respects" Steak 'n Shake's Decision Not to Adopt ... (https://cryptorank.io/news/feed/ce6eb-vitalik-buterin-respects-steak-n-shakes-decision-not-to-adopt-eth-for-payments)

[12] Vitalik Buterin "Respects" Steak 'n Shake's Decision Not to Adopt ... (https://www.bitbbq.com/en/280426/)