Bitmine Immersion Technologies announced a $200 million equity investment in Beast Industries, the entertainment company founded by YouTube creator Jimmy Donaldson, widely known as MrBeast. The transaction is expected to close on or about Jan. 19, 2026, according to company statements released on Jan. 15.
Bitmine, which trades on the NYSE American under the ticker BMNR, positions itself as the world’s leading Ethereum treasury company. The firm said the investment aligns with its broader digital asset strategy aimed at institutional investors and public market participants.
The deal links one of the largest creator-led media platforms with a publicly listed crypto treasury firm at a time when digital media and blockchain finance increasingly intersect.
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— Bitmine (NYSE-BMNR) $ETH (@BitMNR) January 15, 2026
Thomas "Tom" Lee @fundstrat , Executive Chairman of BitMine was on @SquawkCNBC today to announce a strategic investment into Beast Industries @MrBeast
- this is ahead of BitMine stockholders meeting today. We will be livestreaming from this account, so tune in !!! https://t.co/P5wV1XOZO1
Leadership frames deal as generational alignment
Thomas “Tom” Lee, chairman of Bitmine and head of research at Fundstrat Global Advisors, described Beast Industries as a category-defining platform for younger audiences.
"MrBeast and Beast Industries, in our view, is the leading content creator of our generation, with a reach and engagement unmatched with GenZ, GenAlpha and Millennials," Lee said. "Beast Industries is the largest and most innovative creator based platform in the world and our corporate and personal values are strongly aligned."
Lee later expanded on the rationale during a CNBC Squawk Box appearance.
“It’s our view that ethereum, which is a smart contract platform, is the future of finance, where digitalization of not only dollars but also stocks and equities [are] going to take place,” he said. “Over time, that really blurs what is a service versus what’s digital money, and that’s where a collaboration and investment into Beast Industries makes sense.”
Lee also said the deal unites “the No. 1 creator in the world with the biggest ethereum platform in the world.”
Beast Industries eyes DeFi integration
Jeff Housenbold, CEO of Beast Industries, said the investment validates the company’s long-term direction and provides additional capital for expansion.
“We are excited to welcome Tom Lee and Bitmine as new investors in Beast Industries joining our current top-tier venture investors,” Housenbold said. “Their support is a strong validation of our vision, strategy, and growth trajectory, and it provides additional capital to achieve our goal to become the most impactful entertainment brand in the world. We look forward to exploring ways to further collaborate and incorporate DeFi into our upcoming financial services platform.”
Beast Industries has expanded far beyond online video. The company oversees consumer products, merchandise, and Feastables, a rapidly growing snack brand. It also operates large-scale philanthropic initiatives through Beast Philanthropy, which has funded global infrastructure projects and distributed more than 20 million free meals.
Market reaction and investor context
Shares of Bitmine showed a mixed reaction after the announcement. According to Google Finance, the stock traded around $31.50 on Thursday, down more than 3% on the day. The shares remain up more than 20% since the start of the year, well ahead of the S&P 500.
Despite its position as the largest corporate holder of Ethereum, Bitmine stock has fallen roughly 21% over the past six months. Bitmine currently holds more than 4.16 million ETH, valued at nearly $13 billion, which represents roughly 3.5% of Ethereum’s circulating supply, according to company disclosures and market data.
Prior crypto controversies resurface
The investment arrives against a backdrop of past scrutiny related to Donaldson’s alleged crypto involvement. In 2024, advisory firm Loock.io released an on-chain analysis that linked more than 50 wallets to influencer-led token promotions. The report alleged profits exceeding $23 million across multiple tokens, including SuperVerse, Ethernity Chain, Polkamon, STAK, and AIOZ.
The findings traced wallet activity to a publicly known Ethereum address previously used for NFT purchases. Donaldson denied earlier claims from analytics platform Lookonchain that he invested in ASTER tokens valued near $1.28 million.
Separately, Alex Choi, a senior strategist for MrBeast content, warned in December that posts promoting a “MrBeast coin” lacked legitimacy. Celebrity-linked crypto scams have remained a recurring issue across the industry.
Strategic uncertainty remains
Bitmine said the investment fits within its plan to pursue selective investments that enhance the Ethereum network value. The company plans to launch its Made-in-America Validator Network in the first quarter of 2026, though the direct connection between validator infrastructure and Beast Industries remains unclear.
Beast Financial filed multiple U.S. trademark applications in October that referenced crypto exchange services, payments, banking, and insurance. Not all trademarks have translated into products.
The deal reflects an early-stage convergence rather than a finalized operating model. As with other creator-led financial initiatives, execution risk remains.
For Bitmine and Beast Industries, the partnership represents an ambitious bet that creator-driven platforms and decentralized finance can coexist at scale.
Tanya Petrusenko
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