Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian has joined a bid to acquire TikTok’s US operations, a move led by billionaire Frank McCourt with plans to integrate blockchain technology into the platform.
On March 4, Ohanian confirmed his involvement in the bid through a post on X. He is joining as a strategic adviser, leveraging his experience in social media and digital innovation.
Ohanian stated:
“I’m officially now one of the people trying to buy TikTok US — and bring it on-chain. TikTok has been a game-changer for creators, and it’s future should be built by them.”
McCourt reportedly noted that Ohanian’s insights into social platforms and their evolution would strengthen the bid and support the vision behind Project Liberty.
The acquisition bid, branded as the “People’s Bid,” aims to integrate distributed ledger technology into TikTok.
Ohanian emphasized that this approach would empower creators and users, allowing them to take ownership of their audience and data. He described the initiative as a step toward making TikTok a platform controlled by its community rather than corporate entities.
He added:
“Users should own their data. Creators should own their audience. Period.”
Frequency, a Polkadot parachain, is set to power this transformation. The network is designed to enhance transparency, accountability, and user control.
Ohanian pointed out that Frequency would ensure these decentralized principles are embedded in TikTok’s operations, making the platform more equitable and sustainable. He noted:
“Frequency will empower these principles to become reality. And with transparency and accountability at the core, this new TikTok won’t just be fairer—it’ll be GREATER.”
If ByteDance approves the offer, TikTok US will integrate Frequency’s blockchain framework, reinforcing decentralization and user empowerment.
Meanwhile, the acquisition effort comes amid growing regulatory pressure on ByteDance to divest its US assets or face a potential ban. TikTok briefly shut down on Jan. 19 in compliance with an order demanding its sale but resumed operations after a temporary extension was granted.
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