- Oracle, a16z, and Silver Lake plan to acquire a majority stake in a new U.S. entity replacing TikTok’s current American operations.
- ByteDance will keep a 20% stake in this spinoff, while the rest goes to the new American buyers.
- The acquisition follows a deal negotiated between the Trump administration and Chinese officials.
- Industry leaders including Larry Ellison and Marc Andreessen are expected to influence the platform’s direction, possibly with an emphasis on Artificial Intelligence and cryptocurrency features.
- Past examples of media ownership shifts, such as those involving major newspapers and social platforms, raise questions about future impacts on TikTok’s operations and user experience.
Oracle, venture capital firm a16z, and Silver Lake will acquire a majority stake in a new American company set to take over TikTok’s U.S. business. The announcement was made on September 16. The platform’s current owner, ByteDance, a Chinese tech firm, will retain a 20% stake in the new entity.
This move comes after negotiations between the Trump administration and Chinese officials regarding the future of TikTok’s operations in the United States. Leadership from Oracle, a16z, and Silver Lake will have decision-making power in the new entity, with focus on meeting U.S. regulatory requirements and addressing national security concerns.
The deal gives Larry Ellison, a close Trump associate and Oracle’s founder, significant influence over TikTok’s U.S. business. The article notes that Ellison may use the opportunity to expand artificial intelligence capabilities. Marc Andreessen of a16z is also positioned to shape the platform’s future with potential new initiatives in AI and crypto payment integrations for creators, according to the original report.
Observers highlight that previous shifts in media ownership, such as the actions of publishers Joseph Pulitzer and William Hearst in the late 1800s, often resulted in major changes to public perception and media practices. The article draws parallels between historic and current media ownership, mentioning how large platforms like Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), under Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk, have impacted social discourse. According to Amnesty International, Facebook has contributed to conflict escalation, and X has faced criticism for the content promoted on its platform.
The article suggests that many large-scale acquisitions by venture capitalists and hedge fund managers have not always improved the services they purchased. With new ownership, TikTok’s format and user experience could change, potentially adding features focused on AI and cryptocurrency. The report questions whether these changes will positively affect TikTok, but it notes that the current owners made the app highly popular with the existing formula.
For more details, see the full announcement from China-deal-app-keep-operating-us-2025-09-16/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Reuters, and related coverage at The New York Times. Further information on TikTok’s relationship with crypto exchanges is available in reports from the UK.
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