Amazon, OnlyFans Founder Join Race to Buy TikTok as U.S. Deadline Nears

Amazon and a consortium led by OnlyFans founder Tim Stokely have emerged as late-stage bidders for TikTok, as the April 5 deadline for a sale approaches under threat of a U.S. ban.

The short-video platform, owned by China-based ByteDance, faces mounting pressure from U.S. lawmakers who cite national security concerns over its Chinese ties. ByteDance and TikTok have denied the allegations.

Stokely’s startup, Zoop, has partnered with a cryptocurrency foundation to submit a bid for TikTok, according to both parties.

Amazon confirmed it sent a letter to Vice President JD Vance and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick regarding its interest. The company declined to comment further.

Shares of Amazon rose about 2% following news of its involvement.

Amazon has previously explored social media ventures, including its 2014 acquisition of Twitch and the now-defunct Inspire, a TikTok-style video feed.

Former President Donald Trump said last month that his administration was in contact with four groups about TikTok’s sale, though he did not name them.

Private equity firm Blackstone is in talks to join ByteDance’s non-Chinese shareholders, including Susquehanna International Group and General Atlantic, to fund a bid for TikTok’s U.S. operations.

Venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz is also exploring a role in a separate bid led by Oracle and other U.S. investors to buy out TikTok’s Chinese stakeholders.

The White House is overseeing discussions to spin off TikTok’s U.S. business into a separate entity, with Chinese ownership capped below 20% to comply with U.S. law.

The New York Times reported that some parties involved in the negotiations are not taking Amazon’s bid seriously.

TikTok’s future in the U.S. has been uncertain since a 2024 law required ByteDance to divest the platform by Jan. 19.

Officials in Washington argue that ByteDance’s ownership could allow Beijing to use TikTok for influence operations and data collection on Americans.

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• Amazon and OnlyFans founder Tim Stokely are among late-stage TikTok bidders

• TikTok faces April 5 deadline to secure a non-Chinese buyer or face U.S. ban

• ByteDance denies U.S. claims of Chinese government influence

Source: REUTERS