With just three days left before TikTok must spin off from its Chinese parent company or face a U.S. ban, new potential buyers have reportedly entered the race.
According to Reuters and The New York Times, Amazon submitted a bid for the app on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, cryptocurrency foundation Hbar and Zoop—a startup co-founded by OnlyFans creator Tim Stokely—jointly presented a plan to the White House to acquire TikTok, company representatives told USA TODAY.
The new deadline for the sale is Saturday, April 5, after President Donald Trump extended the original January deadline set by a 2024 bipartisan law.
Lawmakers have been pushing for a non-Chinese buyer due to national security concerns.
Trump sounded optimistic on Sunday that a deal would be reached before the deadline.
“We have a lot of potential buyers,” he told reporters aboard Air Force One, according to Reuters. “There’s tremendous interest in TikTok… I’d like to see TikTok remain alive.”
Potential Buyers as Deadline Nears
Blackstone Eyes Stake in TikTok
Private equity firm Blackstone is reportedly considering an investment in TikTok, according to Reuters and The New York Times.
If the deal goes through, Blackstone would join non-Chinese shareholders such as Susquehanna International Group and General Atlantic.
Oracle and Andreessen Horowitz in Talks
Venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz is also considering an investment in TikTok, The Financial Times reported.
The firm’s co-founder, Marc Andreessen, has been a vocal supporter of Trump. If the deal moves forward, it would include Oracle, the tech giant co-founded by billionaire Larry Ellison.
Zoop and Hbar Foundation’s Blockchain-Powered Bid
Zoop, a social media startup co-founded by OnlyFans creator Tim Stokely, has teamed up with Hbar Foundation, which supports blockchain transactions on the Hedera network, to make a bid for TikTok.
“Our bid for TikTok isn’t just about changing ownership, it’s about creating a new paradigm where both creators and their communities benefit directly from the value they generate,” Zoop co-founder RJ Phillips said in a statement.
Zoop’s press release claims the bid is backed by U.S. investors, though no names were disclosed. The Hbar Foundation confirmed its involvement to USA TODAY.
When asked about the proposal, the White House said Trump would provide updates on TikTok when he decides.
Amazon Joins the Race at the Last Minute
Amazon has submitted a last-minute bid for TikTok, multiple outlets reported Wednesday.
According to Reuters, the retail giant sent an offer via letter to Vice President JD Vance and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
However, The New York Times noted that some insiders are not taking Amazon’s bid seriously. The company declined to comment.
Who Else Has Expressed Interest?
Earlier in March, Trump mentioned that his administration was working with “four different groups” interested in acquiring TikTok but did not elaborate.
Here are some other known contenders:
- Project Liberty – Led by former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt, Project Liberty aims to create a new internet infrastructure. Investor Kevin O’Leary and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian are part of this bid.
- MrBeast & Employer.com Consortium – Internet celebrity MrBeast (James Donaldson) joined a consortium led by Jesse Tinsley, CEO of Employer.com, which submitted a bid earlier this year.
- Perplexity AI – The U.S.-based search engine proposed a merger in January instead of a sale, which would create a new entity combining Perplexity AI and TikTok.
- Other Interested Parties – Former Activision CEO Bobby Kotick, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon, Microsoft (which previously proposed buying TikTok in 2020 with Walmart), and video streaming platform Rumble have all expressed interest but have yet to submit formal bids.
With the deadline approaching fast, the fate of TikTok in the U.S. remains uncertain.
Disclaimer- Our team has thoroughly fact-checked this article to ensure its accuracy and maintain its credibility. We are committed to providing honest and reliable content for our readers.