Reddit Co-Founder Alexis Ohanian Adds Bid to Buy TikTok, Plans Blockchain Integration

The race to acquire TikTok has taken an intriguing turn, with Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian stepping into the spotlight. The billionaire entrepreneur has joined forces with Frank McCourt, founder of Project Liberty, in a bold bid to purchase the popular video-sharing app.

What sets this proposal apart is its ambitious vision to integrate blockchain technology, aiming to reshape how creators and users interact with the platform. Ohanian, a seasoned veteran in the social media and investment spaces, brings his expertise to the table as a strategic advisor.

McCourt, a prominent American businessman, revealed Ohanian’s involvement in an interview with Reuters, praising the Reddit co-founder’s deep understanding of social media’s past and future. Ohanian wasted no time confirming the news, where he emphasized his belief that creators deserve ownership of their audiences and users should control their data.

Empowering Creators and Users with Blockchain

At the heart of this bid is Frequency, a layer-1 blockchain network designed to give users unprecedented control over their social data. Originally built as a Polkadot parachain, Frequency operates as an instance of the Decentralized Social Networking Protocol, an open framework developed by McCourt’s Project Liberty.

The goal is straightforward yet revolutionary: create a social media ecosystem where individuals, not corporations, hold the reins. Recently, Frequency expanded its reach by partnering with Consensys, a key player in the Ethereum ecosystem, further solidifying its role in “The People’s Bid” for TikTok’s U.S. operations. Ohanian sees this technology as the key to building a fairer, more accountable version of the app—one that could outshine its current form.

Ohanian’s track record adds weight to this endeavor. Through Seven Seven Six, he’s invested in blockchain driven companies like Yuga Labs, creators of the Bored Ape Yacht Club, and others such as Doodles and Sorare. His experience makes him a natural fit for this project. He framed the bid as a chance to set a new standard for digital platforms, calling it “a TikTok for the people, by the people.” While the outcome remains uncertain, the proposal has already sparked conversations about data ownership and the potential of decentralized systems in mainstream social media.

The backdrop to this bid is TikTok’s turbulent recent history in the United States. In January, the app faced a brief ban amid concerns that its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, was collecting data on American users. President Donald Trump intervened with an executive order, delaying the ban and giving ByteDance 75 days to sell or face restrictions. Acquisition rumors have swirled since, with names like Elon Musk briefly linked to the app, though TikTok dismissed those claims.