Alexis Ohanian is now part of Project Liberty, although suggests a twist to how TikTok would operate
Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit, has confirmed his involvement in a bid to acquire TikTok’s US operations. He has joined Project Liberty, a group led by businessman Frank McCourt, with the goal of integrating blockchain technology into the platform. Ohanian stated on social media that he believes users should own their data and creators should have control over their audiences, which aligns with Project Liberty’s broader vision of restructuring digital spaces.
Exciting news for the digital world…
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↓ pic.twitter.com/SPq1Ppv1kK
— Alexis Ohanian 🗽 (@alexisohanian) March 4, 2025
The plan focuses on implementing “Frequency,” a decentralized social network protocol that leverages Polkadot’s infrastructure. This would shift data ownership from centralized corporations to users, offering greater transparency and control.
McCourt, who has been building a consortium for the acquisition, has emphasized that TikTok’s future should be guided by creators rather than large tech companies. His bid is being presented as “The People’s Bid,” highlighting user empowerment and digital rights.
This development comes at a time when TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, faces mounting scrutiny from US regulators, who are pressuring it to divest its American operations due to security concerns. While Project Liberty has positioned itself as a viable alternative, there is no indication that ByteDance is actively pursuing a sale.
Ohanian is no stranger to blockchain technology. Under his leadership, Reddit previously experimented with blockchain-backed avatars and cryptocurrency investments. His involvement in this bid suggests that if successful, TikTok’s structure could change significantly, potentially reshaping the way social media operates by giving users more control over their online presence.
However, the outcome remains uncertain as legal and financial challenges continue to shape the debate over TikTok’s future in the US.
