YouTube star MrBeast buys youth-focused financial services app Step

Creator, Entrepreneur, and Philanthropist Jimmy Donaldson, also known as MrBeast, has expanded his empire by acquiring the financial services app Step. This move marks MrBeast’s entry into the fintech industry, with a specific focus on serving younger users.

Step is a comprehensive money management app designed for teens and young adults to handle their finances, build credit, and access various financial tools. The app will now operate under the umbrella of MrBeast’s company, Beast Industries.

In a statement to his millions of fans, MrBeast expressed his motivation behind the acquisition, stating, “Nobody taught me about investing, building credit, or managing money when I was growing up. That’s exactly why we’re joining forces with Step. I want to give millions of young people the financial foundation I never had. Lots to share soon.”

While the financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed, Beast Industries has been actively fundraising over the past year. Recently, the company received a $200 million investment from Bitmine Immersion Technologies, a major holder of the cryptocurrency Ether chaired by Tom Lee from Fundstrat.

Step, the app now under MrBeast’s ownership, was founded in 2018 by fintech experts CJ MacDonald and Alexey Kalinichenko. The platform aims to provide the next generation with essential tools for financial literacy. Although not a bank itself, Step has partnered with Evolve Bank & Trust for banking services since 2022. Additionally, the app offers a Step Visa Card, a savings account, money transfer capabilities, and investment options, all without monthly fees.

Backed by fintech giant Stripe and prominent venture capital firms like Coatue, Collaborative Fund, Crosslink Capital, and General Catalyst, Step has garnered over 7 million users. Beast Industries sees the acquisition as an opportunity to leverage Step’s technology platform, fintech team, and user base to complement its existing digital audience and philanthropic initiatives.

“This acquisition positions us to meet our audiences where they are, with practical, technology-driven solutions that can transform their financial futures for the better,” stated Jeff Housenbold, CEO of Beast Industries.

In addition to Step, Beast Industries also oversees other ventures such as Feastables, a snack brand, Beast Philanthropy, its non-profit arm, and Beast Games, a reality competition series on Amazon Prime Video. These ventures harness the power of MrBeast’s YouTube brand, which boasts over 450 million subscribers and 5 billion monthly views across channels as of early 2026.

With this strategic move into the fintech sector, MrBeast and Beast Industries are poised to make a significant impact on financial education and empowerment for young users. Stay tuned for more exciting developments from this innovative company.