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MrBeast Makes His First Major Move Into Fintech

Jimmy Donaldson, better known globally as MrBeast, has taken a major step beyond digital media by acquiring youth-focused financial services app Step. The deal marks Beast Industries’ formal entry into fintech and signals a broader ambition to build long-term, real-world platforms around MrBeast’s massive online audience.

While the financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed, the move positions Beast Industries to tap into the fast-growing market for financial tools designed specifically for teenagers and young adults.

Step will continue operating as a standalone app under the Beast Industries umbrella, with a renewed focus on financial education, accessibility, and scale.

What Step Offers and Why It Matters

Founded in 2018, Step markets itself as an all-in-one money app for teens and young adults. The platform allows users to save, spend, send money, and begin building credit, often for the first time in their lives.

Unlike traditional banks, Step is designed around younger users who may not yet qualify for standard checking accounts or credit cards. The app offers features such as a Step Visa Card, peer-to-peer payments, and early access to investing tools, all without monthly fees.

Although Step is not a licensed bank, it partners with Evolve Bank & Trust to provide regulated banking services, a structure commonly used across the fintech industry.

A Personal Motivation Behind the Deal

MrBeast framed the acquisition as a mission-driven move rooted in his own experiences.

He said that growing up, he was never taught how to invest, manage money, or build credit, and believes millions of young people face the same gap today. By acquiring Step, he aims to give the next generation access to financial tools and education much earlier than traditional systems allow.

With MrBeast’s audience skewing heavily toward Gen Z and younger millennials, the acquisition creates a direct bridge between content, education, and practical financial products.

Strong Backers and Proven Scale

Step brings more than just an app to the table. The company has over 7 million users and an in-house fintech engineering team, along with infrastructure that has already scaled nationally in the US.

Before the acquisition, Step attracted backing from some of the most influential names in fintech and venture capital. Its investors include Stripe, Coatue, Collaborative Fund, Crosslink Capital, and General Catalyst, highlighting strong institutional confidence in its model and growth potential.

The founders, CJ MacDonald and Alexey Kalinichenko, built Step with the explicit goal of improving financial literacy for the next generation, a mission that aligns closely with Beast Industries’ public-facing values.

Beast Industries’ Growing Business Empire

The Step acquisition adds another pillar to Beast Industries’ rapidly expanding portfolio. The company has been actively fundraising over the past year and recently secured a $200 million investment from Bitmine Immersion Technologies, a major corporate holder of Ether chaired by Fundstrat’s Tom Lee.

Beyond fintech, Beast Industries operates across consumer goods, entertainment, and philanthropy. Its businesses include Feastables, a fast-growing snack brand, Beast Philanthropy, its charitable arm, and Beast Games, a large-scale reality competition series streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

Each venture is designed to leverage MrBeast’s unparalleled reach while building independent revenue streams that extend far beyond YouTube.

Scale of the MrBeast Platform

MrBeast’s influence remains the foundation of the strategy. As of early 2026, his YouTube network had surpassed 450 million subscribers globally and generated more than 5 billion views every month across multiple channels.

That scale gives Beast Industries a distribution advantage few companies can match, particularly when launching products aimed at younger audiences who already trust the brand.

Why This Deal Stands Out

The acquisition of Step reflects a broader shift in the creator economy, where top creators are no longer limited to endorsements or merchandise. Instead, they are building full-scale companies in sectors such as food, entertainment, education, and now financial services.

For Beast Industries, Step represents a long-term bet that financial tools, when combined with trusted brands and education, can shape consumer behavior early and create lifelong users. If successful, the move could redefine how fintech companies reach and serve the next generation.