Steak ‘N Shake to Accept Bitcoin Payments in the US, Sending New Crypto to Explosive Highs

By: bitcoin ethereum news|2025/05/10 00:45:05
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Reason to trust Strict editorial policy that focuses on accuracy, relevance, and impartiality Created by industry experts and meticulously reviewed The highest standards in reporting and publishing Strict editorial policy that focuses on accuracy, relevance, and impartiality Morbi pretium leo et nisl aliquam mollis. Quisque arcu lorem, ultricies quis pellentesque nec, ullamcorper eu odio. In what could be a historic move for cryptocurrency in the retail industry, Steak ‘n Shake, the popular American fast food chain, will start accepting Bitcoin payments on May 16. Experts believe that Bitcoin couldn’t work as a day-to-day mode of payment due to the additional stress on its network, which would challenge the blockchain’s speed, cost, and scalability. However, this is not the first time, and certainly not the last, that we’re seeing cryptocurrency integration on the retail channel. In this article, we’ll briefly explore just how bullish corporations are on ‘digital gold.’ Read until the end because we’ll also suggest the best new crypto to buy today to benefit from large institutions’ vote of confidence in crypto. Cryptocurrency in Retail Steak ‘n Shake put out an X post on March 8, asking whether it should accept Bitcoin or not. Interestingly, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey tweeted ‘Yes’ in reply to this. In 2022, Chipotle started accepting more than 90 cryptocurrencies at 100+ locations in the US. Previously, Starbucks also allowed its customers to recharge their digital wallets using $BTC. Subway also experimented with Bitcoin payment as early as 2013. Finally, El Salvador’s Pizza Hut was the first retail outlet to officially accept $BTC as payment. Although most of these initiatives were short-lived and never scaled, the tide seems to be changing now (for the better, that is). With $BTC gaining strong ground as a new hedge asset among corporations and governments, many companies are trying to either buy and HODL it or adopt it into their ecosystem. The bottom line, therefore, is that Steak ‘n Shake’s current initiative is just the beginning of the domino effect. More retail businesses are expected to follow suit sooner rather than later (and the reasons for that are pretty clear – adoption). As Bitcoin adoption unblocks new milestones and it becomes a part of our daily lives, there can be hardly any doubt that the asset could be the backbone of modern economies. If you want to make the most of crypto’s increasing popularity, here are the best cryptos you should consider buying right now. 1. Best Wallet Token ($BEST) – Best New Crypto to Buy Right Now A secure and user-friendly crypto wallet is essential as cryptocurrency becomes more mainstream, enabling users to pay for everyday items such as burgers and gas using the top altcoins. Enter Best Wallet . As outlined in our Best Wallet review, we’re impressed by the wallet’s mobile-first design and support for multiple cryptocurrencies. These are crucial if you want to benefit from the growing support for crypto payments in offline stores. The app is also laced with class-leading security features. First and foremost, Best Wallet is non-custodial, meaning none other than you will have access to your crypto assets. Secondly, it employs Fireblock’s advanced cryptographic technology and multi-factor authentication (including biometrics) to keep bad actors at bay. It’s worth noting that Best Wallet’s native cryptocurrency, Best Wallet Token ($BEST) , gives you a unique opportunity to invest in the wallet’s growth. Best Wallet, after all, is on a mission to capture over 40% of the non-custodial crypto wallet market by 2026. For instance, $BEST token holders will have to pay lower fees when they buy, sell, or swap cryptos on Best Wallet. Furthermore, they’ll also get early-bird access to all the new meme coins on presale listed on Best Wallet. If you like what you see, buy $BEST today for just $0.024995 each. The project, which has turned out to be one of the best crypto presales, has raised over $12M so far. 2. BTC Bull Token ($BTCBULL) – Best Bitcoin-Themed Altcoin Offering Free $BTC via Airdrops Both $BTC’s adoption and price are on a hot streak right now, so we believe it could be the perfect time to invest in a Bitcoin-themed altcoin that could rise alongside the king cryptocurrency. We’re talking about BTC Bull Token ($BTCBULL) . It’s unique because it’s the only crypto out there offering Bitcoin airdrops to its token holders. In other words, if you buy into the BTC Bull Token presale, you’ll be rewarded with a sizable portion of a $100K crypto asset for absolutely zero costs on your end. According to BTC Bull Token’s whitepaper, the $BTC airdrops will take place every time the underlying crypto, i.e., Bitcoin, smashes through a new milestone, such as $150K, $200K, or $250K. Important: You must hold your purchased $BTCBULL tokens in Best Wallet to be eligible for free $BTC. Combined with a deflationary model, wherein a portion of the total $BTCBULL token supply will be burnt off every time $BTC’s price rises by $25K, the project’s focus on PR could be a huge reason why its rally could stretch over multiple months. Join the group of Bitcoin maximalists and buy $BTCBULL now. The project has raised nearly $5.5M, and you can get one token for just $0.002505 if you act now. 3. Moo Deng ($MOODENG) – Viral Meme Coin Trending Right Now Moo Deng first made the headlines soon after its launch in September 2024. At the time, it took less than two months to skyrocket to its all-time high of $0.62 – a gain of over 2,000% from the levels of $0.031. After a sluggish 3-4 months, the token is back among the top trending cryptos. It’s up over 150% in just the last 24 hours, which brings its total monthly gain to over 450%. Currently trading at $0.1292, this cheap crypto is an out-and-out meme coin, meaning it’s driven by community engagement and virality. It’s based on a baby pygmy hippo, also known as Moo Deng. As is the case with meme coins, $MOODENG, too, rose to popularity when the baby hippo meme went viral on social media. Investors soon flocked to Solana to shower their love on this cute token. Beware – New Crypto May Result in FOMO Before you pour a disproportionate amount of money into new cryptos, expecting them to rocket to the moon, kindly remember that the crypto market, especially meme coins, is a high-risk investment. We suggest only investing an amount you’re comfortable losing. Also, this article isn’t financial advice of any sort, and you must do your own research and due diligence before investing. Source: https://www.newsbtc.com/news/steak-n-shake-to-accept-bitcoin-payments-inus-sending-new-crypto-to-explosive-highs/

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Is XRP a Good Investment in 2026? Why Is It Stuck at $1.45

XRP is up 6.7% this week, but exchange reserves remain high. Is a volatility spike imminent? We analyze price trend, ETF inflows, whale activity, and regulatory catalysts to answer: will XRP go up, why is XRP dropping, and is XRP a good investment right now?

TL; DR

What is XRP: XRP is a digital asset built for fast, low-cost international payments. It runs on the XRP Ledger and is used by Ripple for its On-Demand Liquidity (ODL) service. Unlike Bitcoin, XRP settles transactions in 3-5 seconds with near-zero fees.Why is XRP Dropping: XRP is not actively dropping, but it is struggling to rise. On the monthly chart, XRP has seen six consecutive months of decline. Currently, the price faces an additional supply wall at $1.45. About 1.24 billion XRP were bought in that range, and those holders sell when the price approaches, creating selling pressure that prevents a recovery.Will XRP Go Up: Potentially yes. XRP is trading near $1.43 and showing its best weekly performance since September 2025. If the price breaks above the $1.45 resistance, analysts expect a move toward $1.90, supported by strong institutional demand.Is XRP a Good Investment: The answer is not simple. Short-term traders may see opportunity in the coming volatility spike. Long-term investors face a bigger question that depends on one key regulatory event. However, the data reveals a surprising signal that most retail buyers are missing right now. To understand whether XRP is a smart buy or a trap at $1.43, you will need to read the full analysis below.What is XRP? A Digital Asset for Global Settlement

Before analyzing the charts, it is crucial to understand the asset in question. What is XRP? Unlike Bitcoin, which was designed as a decentralized digital gold, XRP operates on the XRP Ledger (XRPL). It was created to facilitate fast, low-cost international payments. Traditional bank transfers take days and incur high fees. XRP transactions settle in 3-5 seconds, costing fractions of a penny.

Ripple, the company associated with XRP, uses this asset for its "On-Demand Liquidity" (ODL) service. Banks and financial institutions use ODL to source liquidity during cross-border transactions without pre-funding accounts. This utility is the primary driver for institutional interest. Recently, the network hit a milestone of over 8 million active wallets, signaling growing usage despite recent price stagnation . Furthermore, Ripple is proactively preparing for the future, releasing a four-stage roadmap to make the XRPL "quantum-resistant," aiming to secure the ledger against future quantum computing threats by 2028 .

XRP Price Analysis: The Battle for $1.45

The XRP price trend over the last month tells a story of exhaustion followed by cautious recovery. On the monthly chart, XRP experienced six consecutive months of decline. However, April shows signs of a bottoming process. Weekly charts reinforce this view: after four weeks of lower closes, the last two weeks have seen small rebounds.

According to data from April 22, 2026, XRP is trading at approximately $1.44. Over the last seven days, XRP has outperformed both Bitcoin and Ethereum, rising 6.7% while the broader market rose only 3.2%. Spot trading volume surged 23% to $3.79 billion, and derivative markets saw $40 billion in futures volume on a single day.

Despite this, the price remains 60% below its July 2025 high of $3.65. The current technical picture shows a "low volatility grind" higher. The 20-day EMA is at $1.3924, and the 50-day EMA is at $1.4119, both acting as support . However, the immediate hurdle is the $1.45 resistance level. This price point has rejected every rally attempt in 2026.

Why is XRP Dropping? And Will XRP Go Up?

The primary reason for the recent "drop" (or lack of upward momentum) is not active selling, but rather the "supply wall." Data indicates that roughly 1.24 billion XRP tokens were purchased by investors in the $1.45 to $1.47 range. These investors have been waiting months to "break even." Every time the price approaches $1.45, these holders sell to exit their positions, creating a massive wall that retail buying cannot easily absorb.

However, the underlying momentum is shifting. Analysts suggest a xrp volatility spike imminent because the absorption capacity of buyers is increasing. Historically, when exchange reserves are high but the price refuses to drop significantly, it signals that buyers are absorbing the supply. The price has held above $1.39 despite the overhang, which is a sign of relative strength.

So, will XRP go up? Yes, potentially. But it needs a catalyst, if the price closes a daily candle above $1.45. If that happens, the next targets are $1.60 to $1.65, and eventually $1.90 .

XRP Exchange Netflow and XRP ETF Netflow: A Tale of Two Markets

The current market dynamic is best understood by looking at two opposing data streams: XRP Exchange netflow and XRP ETF flows.

Exchange Dynamics (Retail / Whales):

Data shows a complex pattern of "large inflows and increasing reserves." Recently, a Ripple-associated wallet moved 75 million XRP (approx. $108 million) to Coinbase. This initially looks like a dump, but context matters. These transfers are likely to provide liquidity for Ripple’s ODL business, not necessarily spot market selling. However, the result is that exchange reserves have climbed to 2.76 billion XRP .

The Good News: While reserves are high, the rate of increase is slowing. Specifically, "whale" transfers to exchanges have dropped 98% from their April 11 peak. The Binance reserve has slightly decreased from 27.7 to 27.6 billion. The aggressive selling from large holders appears to have stopped.

Institutional Dynamics (ETF):

While whales were sending coins to exchanges, institutions were buying XRP ETF products. XRP ETF net flow is strongly positive.

US-listed XRP ETFs recorded four consecutive days of inflows totaling $38.86 million recently .The weekly inflow for mid-April hit $119.6 million, a multi-month high .Cumulative net inflows stand at $12.8 billion, with Assets Under Management (AUM) at roughly $10.8 billion.Analyzing the Divergence: Why Both Flows Are Positive

It seems contradictory that exchange reserves are high (suggesting selling) while ETFs are buying (suggesting buying). However, this phenomenon reveals the current market structure.

Different Investor Profiles: The exchange inflows likely come from short-term traders, market makers, or Ripple itself providing ODL liquidity. These are "hot" coins ready to be sold. The ETF inflows represent "sticky" capital. Institutions buying ETFs are typically long-term holders (LTHs) or asset managers who do not day-trade. They are removing liquidity from the spot market by buying through custodians.The "De-risking" Trade: Sophisticated funds might be engaging in basis trading. They buy the ETF (taking a long position) while simultaneously shorting XRP futures or selling spot inventory to capture the funding rate. This keeps the price stable while volume increases.Absorption: The most likely scenario is that the market is simply absorbing the excess supply. The fact that the price is stable ($1.43) and not collapsing to $1.20 despite 2.76 billion coins sitting on exchanges is a massive win for the bulls. The ETF inflows are acting as a sponge, soaking up the selling pressure from the ODL wallets.The Regulatory Catalyst: The SEC and the CLARITY Act

Fundamentally, the recent price action cannot be separated from regulation. For years, the primary answer was the SEC lawsuit. That narrative is dying.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse recently praised SEC Chair Paul Atkins as "a breath of fresh air and sanity" . This regulatory thaw is critical. The SEC is reportedly considering dropping the long-standing lawsuit, and five XRP ETF applications are awaiting review.

The major catalyst on the horizon is the CLARITY Act. A Senate markup is expected before the end of April. Standard Chartered analysts project that if the bill advances, it could unlock $4 to $8 billion in institutional flows . Polymarket gives the bill a 60-66% chance of passing in 2026. If the CLARITY Act classifies XRP as a non-security (commodity), the institutional floodgates will open, likely overwhelming the $1.45 supply wall instantly.

Is XRP a Good Investment in 2026?

Given all this data, is XRP a good investment? The answer depends entirely on your risk tolerance and time horizon.

The Bull Case (Why it is a good investment): The risk/reward ratio is asymmetrical to the upside. The price is near multi-year lows relative to its utility. Whale selling has stopped, ETF demand is rising, and the network is expanding (8 million wallets, quantum resistance roadmap). If the CLARITY Act passes, XRP could realistically trade between $1.60 and $1.80 in the short term, with a potential run to $3.00+ if the lawsuit is officially dropped.The Risk Case (Why it is NOT a good investment): There is a clear resistance wall at $1.45. If the CLARITY Act fails or is delayed past May (due to midterm election dynamics), the "buy the rumor, sell the news" dynamic could reverse. If the price fails to break $1.45 and loses support at $1.33, a drop back to $1.15 is technically possible .

Verdict: XRP is a speculative buy for traders looking for a volatility spike. It is a hold for current investors. For new investors, it is only a good investment if you believe in regulatory clarity within the next 30 days. Technically, waiting for a confirmed break above $1.55 (to avoid the fakeout) is safer than buying at $1.43.

FAQ

Q: Will XRP go up if the CLARITY Act passes?

A: Yes, historically. Analysts predict that if the CLARITY Act passes, signaling that XRP is a commodity, it would remove the regulatory overhang. This could trigger a surge in institutional buying, pushing the price from the current $1.43 range to test the $1.80 - $2.00 resistance levels quickly.

Q: Why is XRP dropping when Bitcoin is going up?

A: XRP has specific supply dynamics. Unlike Bitcoin, which has a fixed supply issuance, XRP faces periodic sell-pressure from Ripple's treasury wallets used to fund ODL (liquidity) services. Additionally, the $1.45 "break-even" wall causes XRP to drop relative to BTC when short-term traders exit.

Q: Is a volatility spike imminent for XRP?

A: Yes. The Bollinger Bands on the daily chart are squeezing. The price is stuck between support at $1.33 and resistance at $1.45. Historically, when XRP volume surges 23% in a week (as it did on April 21), it precedes a violent move. The direction depends on whether the $1.45 resistance breaks.

Q: What is the XRP ETF netflow status?

A: As of late April 2026, XRP ETFs are seeing positive netflows. The US ETFs recorded a single week inflow of $119.6 million in mid-April. Cumulative inflows are strong at $12.8 billion, indicating that institutions are accumulating during this dip, which is a long-term bullish signal for price stabilization.

Q: Is XRP a good investment for beginners?

A: XRP is less volatile than "meme coins" but more volatile than Bitcoin. For beginners, it is a moderate-risk investment. Its value is tied to real utility (bank payments). However, beginners should wait to see if the price can close a weekly candle above $1.55 before entering, to avoid buying into the current resistance wall.

Disclaimer: None of the information in this article constitutes, or is intended to constitute, investment advice. Trading cryptocurrencies carries a high level of risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Always do your own research.

About WEEX

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