FAT Brands (Nasdaq: FAT) Now Accepts Bitcoin From Franchisees

Franchise owners of restaurant brands Johnny Rockets, Fatburger, Round Table Pizza, Great American Cookies, and other FAT Brands entities can now pay franchisee royalty payments in Bitcoin.

Franchise owners of restaurant brands Johnny Rockets, Fatburger, Round Table Pizza, Great American Cookies, and other FAT Brands (Nasdaq: FAT) entities can now pay franchisee royalty payments in Bitcoin.

The move, which was disclosed on Monday, underscores the company’s commitment to financial and technological innovation. It also provides additional flexibility for franchisees, especially those operating in countries other than the U.S.

"Over the years, Bitcoin has transformed into a mainstream asset and, as a company, we see great value in expanding our forms of payments for our franchisees," said FAT Brands COO Thayer Wiederhorn. "We are excited to begin accepting Bitcoin for royalty payments."

"We may open up other options in the future, but we’re starting with Bitcoin and expanding our capabilities to include this valuable cryptocurrency," Wiederhorn added. "This initiative aligns perfectly with our broader strategy of seeking new and creative ways to support our franchisees and drive value to our stakeholders."

The move comes as part of FAT Brands' broader efforts to stay ahead of the curve in the rapidly evolving food service industry. With 18 different franchise concepts and more than 2,300 locations worldwide, FAT Brands is constantly looking for ways to improve efficiency and reduce costs.

"We believe that accepting Bitcoin for franchisee royalty payments is a natural progression for our company," said Wiederhorn. "It is a logical step in our journey to becoming a more crypto-friendly and efficient organization."

Franchisees, or those that own one of FAT Brands' quick-service, casual dining locations, can pay franchise and development fees, as well as their royalty payments by sending Bitcoin to a "crypto wallet business account," a FAT Brands representative told Decrypt. At that point, FAT Brands can decide whether or not it wishes to sell the Bitcoin for USD, or hold it.

As for adding other payment options like Ethereum or Solana, it could "possibly" happen "in the future," a representative for FAT Brands told Decrypt, "but we’re starting with Bitcoin."

What about paying for a Fatburger or milkshake from Johnny Rockets with Bitcoin?

"Potentially, but not today," they replied.

The overlap of cryptocurrency and restaurants has grown in recent years. In 2024, on-chain dining rewards platform Blackbird helped bring crypto payments to some of New York's most acclaimed restaurants. Plus, fast food chains McDonald's, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut have all run collaborations in Web3.

Furthermore, there’s a growing trend of publicly traded companies embracing Bitcoin as a treasury reserve asset, popularized by Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) and its outspoken chairman Michael Saylor. His firm now holds some $44 billion worth of Bitcoin, and the firm's model has inspired dozens of followers.