- Alexis Ohanian joins Frank McCourt’s bid to buy TikTok’s US operations as an adviser.
- Ohanian will help validate and promote Project Liberty’s user data control technology.
- ByteDance remains hesitant, which raises uncertainty over TikTok’s future in the US.
Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian has joined Frank McCourt’s effort to acquire TikTok’s US operations. McCourt announced the partnership on Monday, positioning Ohanian as a strategic adviser who will help validate the technical aspects of the proposal.
Ohanian founded Reddit with his University of Virginia roommate before selling it to Conde Nast in 2006. He brings valuable experience from his later return to lead the platform’s turnaround in 2014. Ohanian’s investment portfolio includes successful tech companies like Instacart, Patreon, and OpenSea, adding credibility to McCourt’s bid.
“He has that broad portfolio of experience…of where social media was and, I think, a keen understanding of where it’s evolving,” McCourt stated. The former Los Angeles Dodgers owner submitted his bid in early January as the deadline approached for ByteDance to sell TikTok’s US operations or face a ban. McCourt’s proposal centers on Project Liberty technology, which would allow users to control how their personal data is used and shared.
Ohanian expressed enthusiasm about giving users more control over their data. “Where he can help mostly is validating but also socializing what we’re doing,” explained McCourt. He highlighted Ohanian’s ability to bridge the gap between technical and non-technical stakeholders.
McCourt noted two distinct audiences for the bid: technical experts who need to understand the sophisticated technology, and everyday users who are impacted by this technology more than they realize. Ohanian’s involvement aims to address both constituencies.
When the app briefly shut down in the US hours before the January 19 ban was scheduled to take effect, President-elect Donald Trump intervened, saying he would restore access. Trump subsequently granted a 75-day delay in enforcing the ban and tasked Vice President JD Vance with overseeing the sale process.
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McCourt revealed that his team has submitted comprehensive information about the bid to the White House. This includes details on financing, technology approach, and how the proposal addresses national security concerns. However, he noted that ByteDance appears only “lightly” engaged in the process.
The current situation leaves the fate of TikTok’s US operations uncertain. McCourt suggested there remains a possibility that ByteDance might choose to shut down the app, which is used by approximately half of America’s population, rather than proceed with a sale.
On the broader side, there are over 500 million Reddit users and it is a platform where many crypto enthusiasts host events. The collaboration can also make Tik-Tok the next active platform for crypto users paving the way for a new trend.
