Project Liberty adds Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian to TikTok US acquisition team
Ohanian joins Project Liberty
Reddit and OpenSea co-founder Alexis Ohanian is joining McCourt's Project Liberty initiative to acquire TikTok's U.S. operations.
Ohanian, a well-known figure in Silicon Valley, has invested in companies like Reddit, Instacart, Patreon and OpenSea.
On February 3, Reuters reported that Ohanian is joining a group of investors led by Frank McCourt, aiming to buy TikTok's U.S. business from Chinese company ByteDance for $20 billion as part of the "people’s initiative" Project Liberty. The next day, Ohanian confirmed the news on his X account.
"I am now officially one of those trying to buy TikTok US — and put it on the network. TikTok has changed the game for creators, and its future should be built by them," Ohanian stated, adding that users should own their data and creators their audience.
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Within McCourt’s group, Ohanian will serve as a strategic advisor. If the bid for TikTok’s U.S. segment succeeds, his role will be to transition the platform to blockchain, giving users more control over their data, its use, and distribution.
"Where he can help, primarily, is in verification and socialization of what we’re doing. This project is built on very complex technology, so you need a very specific audience when it comes to proving its legitimacy, how it works, and why it’s necessary," McCourt commented on Ohanian's involvement.
On January 19, a U.S. court ruled that TikTok's U.S. operations must cease. However, former President Donald Trump granted a 75-day extension, hoping that ByteDance and potential U.S. buyers would reach an acceptable solution within that timeframe.
As we wrote, TikTok, the popular social media app operated by Chinese tech firm ByteDance, is back on the U.S. app stores of Apple and Google after President Donald Trump delayed the enforcement of a ban.
