Step secures an additional $300 million, launches crypto investing and a financial literacy program
Teens and young adults can now invest and earn crypto on the Step App and stocks are coming soon.
PALO ALTO, Calif. –– October 11, 2022 –– Step, the all-in-one financial solution for the next generation, announced up to $300 million in debt funding led by Triplepoint Capital and Evolve Bank & Trust. The new funding brings the total capital raised by Step to $500M.
With this new round of funding, Step will accelerate investments in product infrastructure and continue to bring ground-breaking financial products to the next generation. Step is the first platform to allow people under the age of 18 to build a positive credit history with their own secure Step Visa Card, opening doors to better terms and more comprehensive financial products earlier in adulthood.
“Gen Z is the generation of creators, entrepreneurs and investors. They are redefining norms and taking control of their financial futures earlier in life thanks to products like Step” said Jim Labe, Co-Chief Executive Officer at Triplepoint Capital. “We are excited to partner with the Step team to continue scaling the business to millions of financially-savvy teens and young adults.”
In addition to this new funding, today, Step launched crypto investing. With this new offering, Step becomes the first platform to allow teens, with the consent of a parent or legal guardian, to responsibly participate first-hand in the rapidly evolving investing landscape, starting with buying and selling bitcoin. Stocks and other cryptocurrencies will be added to the platform soon.
Alongside the investing platform, customers can accrue rewards in cryptocurrency (and soon stocks) when they shop with their Step Visa Card at their favorite merchants – restaurants, clothing stores, streaming services and more. This is an expansion of Step’s recently launched cashback rewards platform
"The next generation is hungry for modern financial products that streamline their day to day,” said CJ MacDonald, Founder and CEO at Step. “We are excited about the progress we have made over the past year and the new products that are launching today.”
To ensure the next generation is prepared for their financial futures, Step also unveiled Money 101 – a six-lesson financial literacy program designed to help students and parents nationwide learn the foundations of modern banking. From understanding how banks work to investing in stocks and cryptocurrencies, Money 101 is available to all and is now being taught in over 100 high schools across the country. Users everywhere can jumpstart their financial journey today at step.com/education
To date, Step has raised over $500M in equity and debt financing from Crosslink Capital, Stripe, Coatue, General Catalyst, Triplepoint Capital, Charli D’Amelio, Stephen Curry, Justin Timberlake, Will Smith, The Chainsmokers, Alex Rodriguez, and several other prominent investors.
About Step
Step was founded by financial industry veterans CJ MacDonald and Alexey Kalinichenko to provide teens, their families and young adults with financial tools for today’s modern-day banking needs and to promote financial literacy for the future. The founding team has 50+ years of combined financial technology experience from companies like Affirm, Block, Google, Gyft, Stripe, and Wealthfront. The Series C company has more than 3 million customer accounts and has raised more than $500 million in venture and debt funding, backed by Coatue, Crosslink Capital, General Catalyst, Stripe and several other prominent investors. Evolve Bank & Trust, Member FDIC provides Step’s banking services and issues the Step Visa Card pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. Cryptocurrency transaction and custody services powered by Zero Hash LLC and Zero Hash Liquidity Services LLC. Cryptocurrency services may not currently be available in all states, including in NY or to NY residents. To learn more, please visit: www.step.com or contact press@step.com.
