Alexis Ohanian, the Reddit co-founder and a big name in Silicon Valley, confirmed on March 5, 2025, that he’s jumping into the race to buy TikTok’s U.S. operations, teaming up with Frank McCourt and Project Liberty.
In a post on X, Ohanian said if the bid succeeds, the plan is to bring TikTok on-chain—basically, using blockchain tech to give users more control over their data, how it’s used, and who it’s shared with. “TikTok has been a game-changer for creators, and its future should be built by them,” he wrote, signaling his vision for a decentralized platform.
The news came after Reuters reported Ohanian’s involvement, with McCourt, the former Dodgers owner, welcoming him as a strategic advisor for the bid. McCourt told Reuters that Ohanian’s deep understanding of social media and its evolution will be key, especially for pitching Project Liberty’s tech-heavy plan. “Where he can help mostly is validating but also socializing what we’re doing,” McCourt said, noting the bid’s focus on sophisticated blockchain solutions to reshape TikTok’s U.S. arm. Ohanian’s track record—backing startups like Instacart, Patreon, and OpenSea—lends some serious cred to the effort.
TikTok, owned by China’s ByteDance, has been a hot potato in the U.S., briefly yanked from app stores after a ban kicked in, only to return after President Donald Trump stepped in earlier this year. Prediction markets still see a ban as likely, but McCourt’s bid, backed by Ohanian, aims to sidestep that by taking over the U.S. operations and rebuilding it on a decentralized foundation. It’s a bold move, especially with Trump pushing pro-crypto policies and hosting his White House Crypto Summit on March 7. Whether this bid flies or flops, Ohanian’s in the driver’s seat to shake up social media—again.
