MrBeast's acquisition of Step pivots from attention to retention. He is targeting teens not for their current small balances, but because bank accounts are incredibly sticky. He is acquiring future high-value customers for a low cost, knowing the high friction of switching banks will retain them for decades.
The user account balance displayed in an iPhone mock-up on a fintech company's website is a deliberate signal. Whether it's $50, $100,000, or millions, this number implicitly communicates the wealth and life stage of the app's ideal user, offering a quick heuristic to understand its market positioning.
Dating app Date Drop's success stems from its weekly "drop" model, which transforms app usage into a communal event. The seven days of waiting, not the match itself, creates the product's core value and drives its virality, much like HBO's weekly episode releases for shows like Game of Thrones.
Extreme demand for AI infrastructure is pushing investors to treat tech giants like Google as ultra-stable, long-term investments, similar to government bonds or utilities. The creation of a "Century Bond" shows investors are willing to accept very long-term horizons, framing AI as foundational, generational infrastructure.
Unlike capitalism which fosters growth through investment and innovation, "crapitalism" describes how private equity owners can hollow out a company by focusing solely on cost-cutting and value extraction. This neglects necessary investments in e-commerce and customer service, leading to the brand's decline and eventual bankruptcy.