Three-time Grammy winner Diplo has invested in the fintech startup Copper, which helps users earn from everyday spending. The Seattle Mariners have been scouting ahead of the trade deadline and have promoted their top prospects, Johnny Farmelo and Felvin Celestyn, to Double-A.
Diplo bets on fintech: Grammy winner invests in Seattle startup Copper that helps earn from everyday spending
The well-known producer, DJ, and entrepreneur Diplo (real name: Thomas Wesley Pentz) has joined the investor group behind Seattle’s Copper. As reported by GeekWire, this isn’t just another celebrity investment: the three-time Grammy winner sees real value in the platform for millions of users who already spend time on their phones and spend money. The company itself has undergone a major transformation—starting out as a banking app for teenagers, then losing a key partner after the fintech infrastructure firm Synapse collapsed, and now rebuilding fully around a model that rewards purchases, games, and cash back.
Copper positions itself as an alternative to “attention-monetizing” apps that take both time and money. According to CEO Eddie Beringer, co-founder of the fundraising startup Snap! Raise, Copper’s mission is to help families improve their financial situation. “When household spending went up, we saw a huge opportunity: help the person making everyday spending decisions earn more from what they’re already doing—from buying groceries to shopping in stores and the time they spend on their phone,” Beringer explained in an interview with GeekWire. The platform already has more than 4 million members who receive money from mobile games, cash-back offers, and purchases.
Diplo himself described his interest simply: “I’m always looking for things that really make sense for people. Copper is one of them: you’re already on your phone, you’re already spending money—and it gives you something back. It’s real.” For the musician who has built a business portfolio far beyond the stage—ranging from the recording label Mad Decent to his own running club with 5K races paired with festivals—such an investment fits naturally into his entrepreneurial strategy. While the investment amount isn’t disclosed, support from a star investor could strengthen trust in the platform amid its recent painful pivot.
In 2024, Copper was forced to shut down its banking services due to Synapse’s collapse—a company that provided fintech infrastructure for many startups. Synapse was, in effect, a “layer” between Copper and real banks, and when that partner fell apart, hundreds of thousands of customers could have lost access to funds. At the time, Beringer acknowledged that the event led to accounts being closed much earlier than planned. Still, the startup managed to rebuild its business around the rewards platform, and now it’s paying off: total funding raised reached $42 million, and in terms of revenue growth over three years Copper ranked second among the fastest-growing companies in the US Northwest in Deloitte Technology Fast 500.
Notably, Copper originally launched in 2019 as a banking app for teenagers. By the time GeekWire wrote about the startup in 2022 after a $29 million round, the service had nearly 1 million users and was expanding into investment products. Now, after the Synapse crisis, the company has completely shifted its direction, but kept the core idea—aiming to return value to users rather than extract it. Diplo’s investment becomes more than just a financial injection; it’s also a kind of “quality mark” for Copper’s new strategy: an artist known for a talent for spotting trends is effectively confirming that a “take and earn” model based on everyday actions isn’t a temporary gimmick, but a sustainable path forward.
Seattle Mariners: scouting ahead of the trade deadline
The Major League Baseball (MLB) season is nearing its dramatic peak, and teams that haven’t decided their postseason fate yet are starting to probe the market. As a Yahoo Sports report indicates, the “Seattle Mariners” are keeping a close watch on two potential trade targets. Unfortunately, the piece itself does not reveal the names of those players. All that’s known is that among the sellers ahead of the deadline is the “San Francisco Giants”—one of the teams that will likely be shedding parts of the roster.
For those who don’t follow the baseball calendar, it’s worth explaining: the trade deadline is a specific date (usually July 31), after which teams can’t make deals until the end of the season. During this period, non-contending teams like the Giants sell off veterans in exchange for young prospects, while contenders such as the Mariners strengthen their roster for a final push. The fact that Seattle is specifically looking at options from San Francisco hints that the front office is seeking targeted help rather than an overhaul.
The key takeaway here is the lack of specifics in the report itself. This is more of an insider note pointing to active scouting than something that offers grounds for final conclusions. In these cases, they typically name positions—pitchers, outfielders, or infielders. However, Yahoo Sports limited itself to hinting that the Mariners are “scouting” someone. For fans, that’s a signal: the club isn’t idle and is exploring options, but there’s still time before final talks.
It’s also known that Seattle traditionally prioritizes strong pitching, while an area of concern is the offense. So, most likely, the target is a position player who could add hits or power. The Giants, in turn, might offer veterans on short-term contracts. That said, for now this is only speculation. As noted in the original Yahoo Sports write-up, the information is presented as “reported,” without links to authoritative sources, so it should be taken with caution.
The fact that the Mariners are scouting on its own is a positive sign for fans. But without names and concrete details, such an insider tip remains only part of the pre-deadline noise. We’ll keep an eye on how things develop.
Mariners prospects climb the ladder: Farmelo and Celestyn sent to Double-A
The Seattle Mariners carried out a major roster rotation across their minor-league system, affecting both the most promising young players and veterans whose contracts were terminated. As reported by Seattle Sports, the key change was the promotion of two top-100 prospects in all of baseball: 21-year-old outfielder Johnny Farmelo and 20-year-old shortstop Felvin Celestyn. Both were promoted from High-A (the Everett Aquasox) to Double-A (the Arkansas Travelers). Farmelo ranks 60th in the overall MLB Pipeline list and is the Mariners’ fifth prospect, while Celestyn sits at 70th overall and sixth within the organization. These promotions came just a few weeks after Seattle moved two other high-ranked prospects from Double-A to Triple-A—Michael Arroyo and Lazaro Montes—suggesting a deliberate club policy of accelerating player development. It’s important to understand that minor-league levels (High-A, Double-A, Triple-A) are essentially steps closer to the majors: the higher the level, the stronger the competition and the closer the chance to debut in MLB. The MLB Pipeline rankings are an authoritative list of the world’s best young players compiled by league experts.
In addition to Farmelo and Celestyn, several other top-30 organization prospects were promoted. Right-handed pitcher Charlie Beylenson (the organization’s 24th prospect) moved from Double-A to Triple-A, Lucas Kelly (27th) went from High-A to Double-A, and outfielders Corbin Dickerson (11th) and Aiden Taurek (28th) rose from Single-A (the Inland Empire 66ers) to High-A. Such mass moves are usually done in midseason to give young players a new challenge and open up spots at the lower levels for new signees from the rookie league or the draft.
At the same time, the Mariners decided to part ways with six players. From Triple-A, catcher Brian O’Keefe (played 10 MLB games for Seattle in 2022–2023), utility player Alejo Lopez (played for the Cincinnati Reds in 2021–2023), and outfielder Colin Davis were released. From Double-A, infielders Hogan Windish and J.T. Arruda were released, along with pitcher Abdiel Mendoza, who very recently represented Panama at the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Windish and Davis were selected by the Mariners in the seventh round of the draft, Arruda was signed as a free agent out of the Nationals system, and Mendoza was an experienced international signee who, in January, signed a minor-league deal with Seattle. Such releases are standard practice to make room for more promising players; sometimes the released players then find new teams or end their careers.
Beyond roster shuffling, the Mariners also assigned All-Star utility player Brendan Donovan’s rehab assignment from Triple-A to High-A. Donovan is recovering from a left groin strain and has already played for Tacom[a] Friday and Sunday. Rehab at a lower level is a standard procedure—giving the player time to regain game rhythm in less demanding conditions before returning to the main roster.
These mass promotions show that the Mariners are actively investing in their youth, aiming to have a competitive core grown within their own system by 2027–2028. Farmelo and Celestyn are especially intriguing—both have a combination of speed, power, and defensive skills that could make them key everyday players in the near future. At the same time, the club isn’t afraid to move on from players who haven’t fit into long-term plans, even if they have MLB experience. Overall, these moves are part of a clear strategy: give the best prospects timely promotions, free up spots for the next wave, and manage the rehab of injured stars without disrupting the farm system’s game rhythm.
