Sacramento Restaurants Pioneer Cryptocurrency Payments with Food Token
Sacramento, CA — A Sacramento-based startup, Food Token, is reshaping the payment landscape for local restaurants by enabling cryptocurrency transactions, marking a bold step toward modernizing the dining experience. Founded by Brian Barton, Food Token offers a platform where diners can pay with digital assets directly at their favorite eateries without the need for conventional banking intermediaries.
Barton, inspired by his frustrations with traditional banking, envisioned a streamlined system that connects consumers and restaurants seamlessly. “I want to do my banking with a restaurant. I don’t need a bank in between,” Barton shared during a recent interview with KCRA 3. This vision is now taking shape in Sacramento, a city Barton chose strategically for its prominence as the “farm-to-fork capital” and its close ties to his life.
The Food Token platform currently operates in several local restaurants including Jim Boys, Brookfield’s, Chocolate Fish, and Beach Hut Deli. It supports transactions using five major cryptocurrencies, simplifying the payment process for users who increasingly engage with digital currencies. With growing cryptocurrency adoption in the U.S.—nearly 17% of American adults reported owning or investing in cryptocurrencies by 2024—Food Token taps into a burgeoning market eager for practical applications of crypto technology.
To address typical concerns about security, Barton explained that restaurants do not directly handle cryptocurrencies. Instead, Food Token functions similarly to digital gift cards from the restaurant’s perspective, which minimizes risk while offering a modern payment method. The token itself can be purchased at 90 cents but is worth one dollar at partner restaurants, providing an incentive for both diners and restaurant owners.
Despite the promising concept, Barton acknowledges the challenges in encouraging restaurants to adopt cryptocurrency payments. Many in the industry remain hesitant about embracing a relatively new and complex technology. Still, Food Token is committed to building a robust network in Sacramento first to test and refine its model before wider expansion.
Food Token plans include expanding beyond the initial 20 restaurant partners in Sacramento and eventually conducting limited nationwide testing. The setup for restaurants is designed to be straightforward, requiring about ten minutes and involving a minimal cost—a ten-cent fee per $25 purchase. This ease of adoption aims to attract small to medium-sized eateries interested in diversifying their payment options.
As cryptocurrency continues to challenge traditional financial systems, initiatives like Food Token—rooted in community and innovation—could redefine how restaurants and consumers interact financially, paving the way for broader acceptance of digital currencies in everyday life.