Bitmine Immersion Technologies announced a $200 million equity investment in Beast Industries, the entertainment company founded by YouTube creator Jimmy Donaldson, who is widely known as MrBeast, on Thursday. The world’s leading Ethereum treasury company stated that the transaction is expected to close on or about January 19, 2026.
Bitmine's Strategic Investment in Beast Industries
In its announcement, Bitmine highlighted its broader focus on implementing digital asset strategies for institutional investors and public market participants. Thomas “Tom” Lee, Chairman of Bitmine, emphasized that MrBeast and Beast Industries represent the leading content creator and creator-driven platform of the current generation, citing their significant reach and engagement across Gen Z, Gen Alpha, and millennial audiences.
Jeff Housenbold, CEO of Beast Industries, also shared his perspective, stating:
We are excited to welcome Tom Lee and Bitmine as new investors in Beast Industries, joining our current top-tier venture investors. 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.
This investment follows a period of speculation regarding MrBeast's involvement in the cryptocurrency space. In September of the previous year, the analytics platform Lookonchain claimed that the YouTuber had invested in ASTER tokens, which were valued at approximately $1.28 million at the time. MrBeast, however, publicly denied these rumors.
Allegations of Insider Trading and Cryptocurrency Activities
An on-chain investigation later linked MrBeast to more than 50 cryptocurrency wallets that were allegedly involved in insider trading activities. According to a report published by the advisory firm Loock.io in 2024, investigators claimed that MrBeast and members of his influencer network promoted multiple crypto tokens on social media before selling their holdings at significant profits. The collective profits were estimated to be over $23 million.
The tokens cited in the report included SuperVerse (SUPER), Ethernity Chain (ERN), Polkamon (PMON), STAK, and AIOZ. SuperVerse alone was reported to have generated more than $11 million in profits for those involved. The findings revealed that transaction patterns were traced through a publicly known Ethereum wallet that had previously been used for NFT purchases. This crucial detail helped analysts connect related wallets and track the movement of funds effectively.
Investigators pointed to specific instances where tokens were sold shortly after promotional activities commenced, thereby raising questions about potential insider trading practices. However, the report acknowledged that definitive control over individual wallets could not be conclusively established. The report also detailed specific cases, such as a PMON investment that reportedly turned $25,000 into $1.3 million, and ERN token transfers that occurred before large sell-offs took place.