Beast Industries, a financial institution with ties to YouTube star MrBeast, has agreed to acquire fintech startup Step for an undisclosed sum.
Beast Industries is the holding company behind MrBeast’s consumer brands, including the packaged snack brand Feastables, and also manages business ventures beyond the wildly popular YouTube channel, which has more than 466 million subscribers.
The acquisition means Mr.Beast (real name James Stephen Donaldson) has acquired a company with an existing banking partner, Evolve Bank & Trust, which is a member of the FDIC and insured up to $250,000 per depositor. Step is focused on building mobile-based banking for teenagers and young adults.
We are excited to share that we have acquired the financial services app @step
When I was a kid, no one taught me about investing, building credit, or managing money. That’s why we join forces with Step! I want to provide financial support to millions of young people…
— MrBeast (@MrBeast) February 9, 2026
Beast Industries did not say when the deal would close and did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the details. decryption.
According to Crunchbase, Step has raised $491 million through six funding rounds to date. The company has received backing from four-time NBA champion Stephen Curry, pop star Justin Timberlake, actor Will Smith, and electronic DJ duo The Chainsmokers.
In 2025, the relevant entities will be mr beast Filed a trademark application related to a potential crypto exchange, demonstrating early interest in financial products beyond media and products. There’s no mention of a cryptocurrency exchange yet, but the filing hints at ambitions that extend to payments, digital assets, and financial education, areas that currently overlap with Step’s teen-focused banking platform.
“Financial health is fundamental to overall well-being, yet too many people lack access to the tools and knowledge they need to build financial security,” Beast Industries CEO Jeff Hausenbold said in a press release. “This acquisition will enable us to meet our audiences with practical technology-driven solutions that can change their financial futures for the better.”
The news was approved by Tom Lee, Chairman of Bitmine Immersion Technologies. His Ethereum finance company recently invested $200 million in Donaldson’s company.
Mr. Lee congratulated MrBeast on X, saying that its foray into financial services complements the YouTube creator’s ongoing business.
“Gen Z is entering adulthood and this is a critical year for financial education on managing and investing savings and evaluating financial markets,” Lee wrote.
