Oracle Emerges as Frontrunner in TikTok US Acquisition, Sources Say

Oracle is reportedly poised to acquire TikTok’s US operations from ByteDance, according to a report from The Information, solidifying its position as the leading contender in a highly competitive bidding process. This development follows President Donald Trump’s recent statement revealing four entities vying for the popular video-sharing platform.

The potential acquisition stems from US regulatory pressures mandating ByteDance to divest its US TikTok assets to a domestic company to ensure continued operation within the country.

Oracle’s strong position is attributed to several factors, notably the close relationship between Oracle CEO Larry Ellison and Trump. Additionally, Oracle was ByteDance’s preferred partner, having previously collaborated on “Project Texas” in 2022, which involved migrating US user data to Oracle’s cloud infrastructure. This pre-existing relationship and technical infrastructure are seen as crucial for a smooth transition.

Furthermore, Oracle’s involvement in the 2020 establishment of TikTok Global alongside Walmart and ByteDance, which aimed to avert a potential ban during Trump’s first term, also strengthens its position.

Other entities expressing interest in acquiring TikTok’s US operations included Amazon, Perplexity, a consortium led by MrBeast, and a consortium led by Kevin O’Leary. However, ByteDance retains the final decision-making power, as the Chinese government has reportedly granted the company the autonomy to select the buyer.