The planned divestment would be General Atlantic’s first since the Trump administration approved the restructuring of TikTok’s U.S. operations in January, which resolved longstanding regulatory uncertainties. The valuation represents a 66% jump from a share buyback last year that placed ByteDance at over $330 billion, and a 15% increase from a secondary market transaction in November 2025, which valued the company at $480 billion.
General Atlantic, which first invested in ByteDance in 2017 when the company was valued at around $20 billion, reportedly began preparations for the stake sale in recent weeks and aims to close the transaction in March. Financial details, including the size of the stake being sold and how much of ByteDance General Atlantic will retain after the sale, have not been disclosed. ByteDance and General Atlantic declined to comment.
The sale highlights the ongoing surge in ByteDance’s private market value and strengthens the prospects for other investors, who could realize substantial gains ahead of a potential public listing. Valuations of privately held shares, while opaque and subject to market fluctuations, are closely watched as indicators of investor appetite and confidence in the company.
ByteDance’s rise has been dramatic. Its revenues have surpassed those of Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, and the company is projected to record an annual profit of approximately $48 billion in 2025. The firm’s portfolio includes the news aggregator Toutiao, the Chinese short-video app Douyin (TikTok’s domestic counterpart), and a growing presence in consumer AI applications through its chatbot Doubao.
The planned stake sale also aligns with General Atlantic’s internal fund lifecycle, as some of its investment funds near the end of their term, requiring capital to be returned to investors. Bill Ford, General Atlantic’s CEO, currently sits on ByteDance’s board.
Other major investors in ByteDance include KKR & Co, Susquehanna International Group (SIG), and China’s Primavera Capital Group. Venture capital firm HSG (formerly Sequoia Capital China) is separately raising a continuation fund to acquire some of its ByteDance holdings from maturing funds, with valuations estimated between $350 billion and $370 billion.
The planned transaction comes at a pivotal moment for ByteDance, following its structural deal in the U.S. that ensured majority American ownership of TikTok’s U.S. operations. The company’s rapid expansion, diversified product lineup, and growing footprint in AI-driven consumer applications underscore its emergence as a global social media and technology leader.