Private equity giant Blackstone is considering acquiring a small minority stake in TikTok’s U.S. operations, aligning with existing non-Chinese investors in a bid to comply with U.S. legal requirements, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The proposed investment would see Blackstone join ByteDance’s current non-Chinese shareholders, including Susquehanna International Group and General Atlantic, in a fresh capital injection aimed at acquiring TikTok’s U.S. assets. The group has emerged as the leading candidate in efforts to separate the American segment of the app from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance.
The U.S. government has mandated that ByteDance divest TikTok’s U.S. operations by January 19, citing national security concerns. Failure to comply would lead to a nationwide ban of the app. TikTok, which boasts nearly half of all Americans as users, briefly went offline in January after the Supreme Court upheld the ban. However, enforcement of the law was postponed to April 5 when President Donald Trump took office. Trump has hinted at the possibility of extending the deadline further while simultaneously considering tariff reductions on Chinese goods as part of broader negotiations.
Under the proposed plan, TikTok’s U.S. business would be spun off into a separate entity, with Chinese ownership reduced to below 20% to satisfy U.S. legal requirements. The financial details of the buyout remain undisclosed, and it is unclear how much fresh investment would be required to acquire the necessary shares from Chinese stakeholders.
Neither TikTok, General Atlantic, nor Blackstone have commented on the matter, while Susquehanna has yet to respond to media inquiries.
Meanwhile, U.S. Vice President JD Vance has indicated that he expects an agreement to be reached before the April deadline, clarifying TikTok’s future ownership structure. As negotiations continue, the fate of one of the most popular social media platforms in the U.S. hangs in the balance, with Blackstone’s potential investment adding another layer to the complex discussions surrounding TikTok’s future in the country.
