In a groundbreaking fusion of creator economy and cryptocurrency, Bitmine Immersion Technologies (NYSE: BMNR), the world’s leading Ethereum treasury firm chaired by renowned analyst Tom Lee, has announced a $200 million equity investment in Beast Industries, the parent company of global YouTube sensation MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson).
This strategic partnership bridges massive digital entertainment reach with blockchain innovation, positioning Beast Industries to expand into decentralized finance (DeFi) applications. The transaction is slated to finalize around January 19, 2026.
Beast Industries commands an enormous audience, boasting over 450 million subscribers across platforms and generating more than 5 billion monthly views. The capital infusion will fuel growth initiatives, including the development of a new financial services platform that integrates DeFi features to engage younger demographics like Gen Z, Gen Alpha, and Millennials.
Tom Lee, who also heads research at Fundstrat Global Advisors, emphasized the visionary alignment during a CNBC “Squawk Box” appearance: He described Ethereum as the backbone for future finance, where traditional assets like stocks and currencies become digitized via smart contracts. This convergence blurs lines between entertainment services and digital money, making the collaboration a logical step in evolving platforms.
Lee highlighted MrBeast’s unparalleled influence as the top content creator worldwide, with unmatched engagement among younger generations. He views the move as uniting the premier creator ecosystem with Ethereum’s leading treasury player.
Beast Industries CEO Jeff Housenbold welcomed the partnership, noting it joins elite existing venture backers and validates their ambitious roadmap to build the most influential entertainment brand globally.
Bitmine stands as the largest corporate holder of Ether (ETH), supported by prominent investors such as ARK’s Cathie Wood, Bill Miller III, Galaxy Digital, and others. The firm recently pivoted to an Ethereum-focused treasury strategy, capitalizing on staking yields and blockchain potential.
Lee remains highly optimistic on cryptocurrencies, forecasting Bitcoin to hit new all-time highs in 2026 while expecting Ethereum to outperform it this year. He anticipates a strong market rebound following setbacks in late 2025, aided by upcoming congressional hearings on crypto regulatory frameworks.
Following the announcement, BMNR shares showed positive movement in premarket trading, building on significant year-to-date gains that have outpaced broader indices.
This deal underscores growing intersections between mainstream media empires and blockchain, potentially paving the way for innovative consumer-facing crypto products through one of the internet’s most trusted personalities.


