In the fast-paced world of fast-casual dining, where margins are tight and competition fierce, Tahini’s Restaurants has defied the odds—not just through flavorful Mediterranean cuisine, but through a bold financial strategy rooted in Bitcoin. What began as a single restaurant in London, Ontario in 2012 has grown into a 62-location chain across Canada, powered in part by a treasury where over 70% of reserves are held in Bitcoin. This isn’t just a hedge against inflation—it’s a long-term vision for financial sovereignty, wealth preservation, and sustainable growth.
The Genesis of a Bitcoin-First Business
Omar and Aly Hamam, brothers and co-founders of Tahini’s, built their business from the ground up. But it was the global economic turbulence of 2020 that catalyzed a strategic pivot. As governments worldwide unleashed unprecedented monetary stimulus in response to the pandemic, inflation warnings grew louder. For Aly Hamam, those warnings weren’t abstract—they were personal.
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Having emigrated from Egypt, Aly had witnessed firsthand the devastating effects of currency devaluation. “The Egyptian pound dropped 85% over two decades,” he recalled. “I saw my parents’ life savings wiped out—sometimes overnight.” When Bitcoin crashed from $10,000 to $4,000 in March 2020, Aly saw not panic, but opportunity. What started as a small speculative purchase quickly turned into deep research—and ultimately, conviction.
“I fell down the rabbit hole hard,” Aly admitted. “Podcasts, books, whitepapers—I was consumed.” His growing belief in Bitcoin as digital gold resonated with the principles of sound money: scarcity, decentralization, and resistance to inflation.
From Personal Conviction to Corporate Strategy
Convincing others wasn’t easy. While Aly and his inner circle began buying Bitcoin personally, moving company funds required consensus. “It wasn’t quick,” he said. “People thought it was crazy.” But the turning point came when Michael Saylor—CEO of MicroStrategy—announced his company’s first major Bitcoin purchase. Saylor’s public rationale provided legitimacy and a blueprint for corporate adoption.
“That was the push we needed,” Omar said. “A week later, we moved all our company reserves into Bitcoin.”
This decision positioned Tahini’s as one of the earliest private businesses in North America to adopt a Bitcoin treasury model. Unlike public companies that raise capital via stock offerings to buy Bitcoin, Tahini’s relied on organic profits and a disciplined dollar-cost averaging (DCA) strategy—buying Bitcoin monthly, regardless of price.
Dollar-Cost Averaging: Simplicity as a Superpower
Tahini’s approach is refreshingly straightforward: buy consistently, stay long-term focused, and avoid timing the market.
“You just buy every month. Ups and downs. Don’t try to outsmart the system,” Omar emphasized.
Their DCA strategy aligns with their accounting cycle. At the end of each month, after reviewing profit and loss statements, they allocate surplus capital toward Bitcoin purchases. The amount isn’t fixed—it fluctuates based on operational needs, expenses, and reinvestment plans.
This flexibility ensures sustainability. Some months see larger buys; others, smaller ones. But consistency remains key. As Omar noted, even investors who started DCA’ing at Bitcoin’s 2021 peak (~$70,000) would have broken even by $30,000 and been perfectly positioned for the next bull run.
Over four years, early adopters have seen returns of 20x to 30x, reinforcing the power of patience and discipline in cryptocurrency investing.
Monetizing Bitcoin Without Selling the Vision
A critical question for any Bitcoin-holding business: How do you access capital without liquidating your entire position?
Tahini’s answer is pragmatic: sell small amounts when necessary—such as for large marketing campaigns or franchise expansions—then replenish holdings through their ongoing DCA plan. Capital gains taxes are factored into financial planning, ensuring compliance and transparency.
“We dip into savings when we need to reinvest,” Omar explained. “Having liquidity gives you power—the freedom to make strategic decisions instead of being limited by cash flow.”
This hybrid model allows them to leverage Bitcoin’s appreciation while maintaining long-term exposure. It’s not about going all-in and never touching it; it’s about using Bitcoin as an active financial tool.
Overcoming Barriers to Bitcoin Payments
Accepting Bitcoin directly at point-of-sale (POS) seemed like a natural next step. But Tahini’s quickly encountered real-world obstacles.
Most commercial POS systems are closed-source and designed around traditional payment rails. Integrating Bitcoin requires API access and developer resources many vendors lack. More importantly, modern POS platforms do far more than process payments—they manage inventory, generate sales reports, track peak hours, and optimize operations.
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“The payment is just the last piece,” Omar said. “We can’t sacrifice functionality for ideology.”
Additionally, merchants need dual support for fiat and crypto—a feature most Bitcoin payment processors still lack. Until interoperability improves, widespread adoption remains challenging.
So Tahini’s adapted: they partnered with Bitcoin Well, installing Bitcoin ATMs in 10 locations. While each machine generated only ~$250 CAD monthly in fees since 2021, those “sats flows” compounded significantly as Bitcoin’s price rose. Today, each participating restaurant holds **over $40,000 worth of Bitcoin**—a passive yet powerful treasury-building mechanism.
Looking Ahead: A Model for Small Businesses
Tahini’s story isn’t just about surviving inflation—it’s about thriving because of foresight. By treating Bitcoin as a core treasury asset, not a speculative side project, they’ve gained financial resilience rare among small businesses.
Their journey highlights several key lessons:
- Inflation protection matters, especially for family-owned businesses with generational wealth goals.
- Consistency beats timing—DCA removes emotion from investing.
- Adaptability wins—when direct payment integration failed, they found alternative ways to accumulate.
- Education drives adoption—Aly’s “orange-pilling” of his team was crucial to gaining buy-in.
And while challenges remain—especially in POS integration—Omar remains optimistic: “Bitcoin is growing fast. Awareness is rising. It’s only a matter of time before adoption accelerates.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why did Tahini’s choose Bitcoin over other cryptocurrencies?
A: The founders value Bitcoin’s scarcity (21 million cap), decentralization, security track record, and growing recognition as digital gold—qualities they believe make it the strongest long-term store of value.
Q: Does holding Bitcoin affect their ability to pay bills or manage cash flow?
A: No. Tahini’s maintains sufficient fiat liquidity for operations while allocating excess profits to Bitcoin. Their DCA strategy ensures they never overextend.
Q: How do they handle Bitcoin volatility?
A: By focusing on long-term accumulation rather than short-term price swings. Monthly buying smooths out volatility over time.
Q: Are other restaurants adopting similar strategies?
A: A growing number of small businesses—from cafes to tech startups—are exploring Bitcoin treasuries, inspired by companies like Tahini’s and MicroStrategy.
Q: Could this model work for non-tech businesses?
A: Absolutely. Any profit-generating business with inflation concerns can benefit from a disciplined Bitcoin savings strategy.
Q: Do they plan to accept Bitcoin payments again in the future?
A: Yes—they’re monitoring POS developments and hope to reintegrate direct payments once seamless, feature-rich solutions become available.
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Tahini’s proves that innovation doesn’t require Silicon Valley backing or venture capital. With vision, discipline, and a commitment to sound money principles, even a family-run restaurant chain can outmaneuver inflation—and build lasting wealth in the process.
Core Keywords: Bitcoin treasury, dollar-cost averaging, inflation protection, Bitcoin adoption, corporate Bitcoin strategy, wealth preservation, Bitcoin DCA, small business finance