Major companies are rushing to buy TikTok’s US operations as the April 5 deadline approaches. The US wants ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent, to sell its American unit. However, TikTok has repeatedly said it’s not for sale. At the same time, China is likely to block any deal involving TikTok’s algorithm.
Amazon’s Surprise Move
Recently, Amazon entered the race with an unexpected bid. The company sent a formal letter to US Vice President JD Vance and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Clearly, Amazon sees TikTok as a powerful force in online shopping.
Moreover, TikTok’s short videos drive shopping trends. Many influencers promote Amazon products through TikTok and earn money from affiliate links.
Even so, experts don’t consider Amazon a top bidder. Earlier, the company launched a TikTok-like shopping tool called Inspire, but it failed. Although Amazon’s interest drew attention, insiders believe its bid may not succeed.
TikTok Holds Its Ground
Meanwhile, TikTok insists it’s not for sale. In addition, the Chinese government will likely block any deal involving TikTok’s algorithm. This makes a full sale extremely difficult.
Who Else Is Competing?
Apart from Amazon, many other big players want to buy TikTok’s US business. Some bring strong financial backing, while others promise privacy or innovation.
Private Equity and Tech Giants
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Blackstone Group: The firm may join forces with Susquehanna International Group and General Atlantic. These firms already own shares in ByteDance.
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Oracle: The tech giant currently stores TikTok’s US data. Co-founder Larry Ellison suggested Oracle could take a 50% stake in the American division.
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Andreessen Horowitz: This venture capital firm may partner with Oracle for a joint bid.
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Perplexity AI: Backed by Jeff Bezos, the startup proposed a merger. However, details remain vague.
Investors and Entrepreneurs
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Project Liberty: Former Dodgers owner Frank McCourt leads this bid. He promises to protect privacy and data security. His backers include Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, investor Kevin O’Leary, and web inventor Tim Berners-Lee.
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Jesse Tinsley (Employer.com): He made an all-cash offer of $30 billion. His group includes Roblox co-founder David Baszucki and YouTuber MrBeast.
New and Unusual Bidders
As the deadline nears, more unexpected names have entered the race:
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Zoop: Co-founded by OnlyFans founder Tim Stokely, Zoop teamed up with blockchain investor The Hbar Foundation to make a bid.
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AppLovin: Backed by casino mogul Steve Wynn, the firm showed interest in buying TikTok.
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Bobby Kotick: The former Activision CEO may want to add gaming to TikTok’s mix.
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Rumble: The video platform, often used by conservative creators, wants to buy TikTok and also offer cloud services.
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Walmart: The retail giant previously tried to acquire TikTok in 2020. Now, it’s back in the discussion.
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Steven Mnuchin: The former US Treasury Secretary is reportedly exploring a bid, though his plan remains unclear.
Can a Sale Actually Happen?
Despite all the bids, a sale might not go through. ByteDance has refused to sell TikTok’s US unit. On top of that, China would oppose any deal involving the platform’s algorithm.
Previously, Chinese authorities introduced laws to block the transfer of certain technologies. So, even if the US demands a sale, China can stop it.
At the same time, the US government insists TikTok must be sold. Officials claim the app poses national security risks. They fear China could access American user data or manipulate content.
Still, any attempt to force a sale could face legal and diplomatic hurdles. US President Donald Trump acknowledged the interest in the app. He said, “We have a lot of potential buyers. There’s tremendous interest in TikTok… I’d like to see TikTok remain alive.”
In conclusion, only ByteDance can decide whether a sale will happen. Even if the US government bans the app, the final call lies with the Chinese tech giant.
