$200 million! Tom Lee's "Ethereum's First Treasury" invests in "YouTube's Top Influencer"

"Ethereum's first treasury" company Bitmine announced a $200 million investment in the MrBeast empire.

On January 15, the world's largest Ethereum holding institution Bitmine Immersion announced that it will invest $200 million in Beast Industries.

Bitmine stated that it will explore ways to collaborate with Beast Industries in the decentralized finance sector, but did not disclose specific product timelines or scope. The transaction is expected to be completed on January 19.

Beast Industries is the business entity behind "YouTube's top influencer" MrBeast. The "MrBeast" channel has over 460 million subscribers.

It is estimated that Beast Industries is valued at up to $5 billion, with an individual net worth of approximately $2.6 billion. Nevertheless, "MrBeast" Jimmy Donaldson admitted that he is currently in a "negative cash flow" situation and even needs to borrow money from his mother to pay for wedding expenses.

This investment is seen as a landmark event in the integration of crypto-native capital and the creator economy. Cryptocurrency companies are seeking alliances with brands that can capture the attention of the younger generation to expand their business.

However, Bitmine's stock price has recently faced pressure, as the complete collapse of the cryptocurrency treasury bubble has impacted its core strategy of hoarding Ethereum as a balance sheet asset.

Creator Economy Meets Crypto Finance

Beast Industries filed a trademark application for "MrBeast Financial" in October last year, listing services that include a cryptocurrency trading platform and consumer lending.

This move suggests that the YouTube superstar is planning to enter the financial services sector, and Bitmine's investment aligns perfectly with this strategic direction.

However, Jimmy Donaldson candidly expressed the misunderstanding of his financial situation by the public. Donaldson stated:

In fact, my net worth is currently negative; I am borrowing money. But no one believes what I say; they say you are a billionaire.

He added:

Strictly speaking, if you deduct the value of my company's equity, that equity can't even buy McDonald's in the morning. The money in everyone's bank account watching this video might be more than mine.

According to Forbes data, Donaldson's annual income is $85 million as of June 2025. Fortune magazine reported in September 2025 that the valuation of Beast Industries, in which he holds just over half of the shares, is $5 billion.

According to the New York Post, the group encompasses YouTube operations, the Feastables chocolate brand, Lunchly snacks, and more, with Donaldson's personal net worth frequently cited as approximately $2.6 billion

Bitmine Stock Price Under Pressure

Bitmine Chairman and well-known investor Tom Lee is also a popular figure in online financial technology.

In a press release, Tom Lee stated:

Beast Industries is the largest and most innovative creator platform in the world, and our corporate values align closely with my personal values.

He has transformed his social media influence into successful investment products, managing exchange-traded funds that have attracted billions of dollars in funding, in addition to researching companies and cryptocurrency businesses.

As a company with an Ethereum treasury valued at billions of dollars, Bitmine's stock price has remained weak since last October when the cryptocurrency crash led to a downturn in market sentiment.

This investment in Beast Industries may represent Bitmine's efforts to diversify its cryptocurrency exposure by collaborating with a highly influential creator platform to explore practical applications of blockchain technology in consumer scenarios