MrBeast offers $100,000 reward for information on Catena Media Co-Founder’s $1.25 million crypto scam

YouTube star MrBeast has announced a $100,000 reward for information that could lead to the arrest of fraudsters who scammed Erik Bergman, Co-Founder of Malta-based Catena Media, out of $1.25 million in cryptocurrency.

The move follows Mr Bergman’s public revelation earlier this month that he had fallen victim to a sophisticated scam, which began after he made a genuine $1 million donation to Team Water, a fundraising campaign spearheaded by MrBeast and fellow YouTuber Mark Rober to build wells in Africa.

Fraudsters posing as part of the initiative lured Mr Bergman into a fake WhatsApp group chat that appeared to include prominent billionaires, streamers, and influencers. Believing he was taking part in an exclusive investment opportunity linked to Coinbase, Mr Bergman transferred $1.25 million in crypto – only to later discover the entire set-up was fabricated.

Speaking about the ordeal, Mr Bergman admitted he felt “ashamed and stupid”, but encouraged others to share their own experiences with shame and fraud in order to reduce stigma.

Now, MrBeast has intervened, pledging a $100,000 bounty to anyone who can provide credible information that leads to the arrest of those behind the elaborate scheme. The YouTuber, who has over 300 million subscribers, made the announcement in a social media post, further amplifying global attention on the case.

The original Team Water campaign, which successfully reached its $40 million goal earlier this month, has not been affected by the scam. The funds raised are expected to provide clean water to two million people in Africa for decades to come.

Mr Bergman, who also founded charity-driven gambling company Great.com, has remained outspoken in the aftermath, turning his personal loss into a cautionary tale. “The next time you feel shame, think of this story. Remember that shame can only live in the shadows,” he wrote when sharing his experience.

With MrBeast now offering a six-figure reward, the search for the perpetrators has intensified, adding further weight to one of the most high-profile crypto scams in recent years.