Capital Today sends ByteDance valuation to $480 valuation after seven-bidder share auction

Source Cryptopolitan

ByteDance hit a fresh valuation of about $480 billion after a Chinese investment firm grabbed a block of its shares in a heated auction that ran on Wednesday, according to data from Bloomberg.

The stake, sold by Bank of China Group Investment, was first priced near $200 million, which reflected a $360 billion valuation for ByteDance, but that price did not survive the bidding war for long.

The auction pulled in around seven bidders, the people said, and the number kept pushing the price higher. Capital Today, run by Kathy Xu, ended up paying close to $300 million for the shares.

The valuation implied by that final bid landed just below half a trillion dollars, showing how much investors still want exposure to ByteDance even with the pressure around TikTok’s future in the United States.

Capital Today wins the auction and pays up

The stake sale marks one of the biggest secondary trades tied to ByteDance this year, the people said. The interest came from the fact that the bank’s block of stock was a rare batch of existing shares available in size.

One person involved in the talks allegedly said bidders saw it as a chance to buy into a company that has strong global reach, fast‑moving artificial‑intelligence tools and massive content and ads demand.

The firm was founded in 2012 by Zhang Yiming and has built several of China’s most used digital platforms.

TikTok alone has roughly 170 million users in the US, but the platform remains under political pressure. The Trump administration is working on a deal that would move the majority ownership of TikTok’s US operation to American investors.

A forced sale had long been a threat hanging over ByteDance, but the current talks aim to avoid the harshest scenario.

Reportedly, ByteDance may still keep around half of the profit from the US business even after it gives up majority control.

Trump has said publicly that the TikTok deal is “basically done” and tied it to larger US‑China trade discussions. Beijing has not said whether it will approve the deal, leaving the final step open.

ByteDance buybacks rise and investors lift valuations

The new valuation from Capital Today lands far above recent internal numbers. In September, ByteDance started a buyback plan for employees at around $330 billion, the people said. The company is also preparing its annual buyback program for institutional investors this month.

Several major holders, including SoftBank Group and Fidelity Investments, have already increased the value of their stakes to more than $400 billion, according to earlier Bloomberg reporting.

The jump also puts ByteDance close to the world’s most valuable startup. OpenAI sits at roughly $500 billion, based on CB Insights data, while Elon Musk’s SpaceX stands near $400 billion.

Investors who joined the auction told contacts that the price jump made sense because the company’s AI systems, ads engine and global content footprint are expanding fast.

Xu, who founded Capital Today, has backed several of China’s major tech names, including Meituan and JD.com. People close to the auction said her win reflects the scale of interest in ByteDance anytime a meaningful block of shares becomes available.

The smartest crypto minds already read our newsletter. Want in? Join them.

Disclaimer: For information purposes only. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
placeholder
Bitcoin Falls Below $90K: BitMine & Bitwise Executives Predict Market Bottom This Week​Bitcoin's recent drop below $90,000 may signal a market bottom, according to industry leaders.
Author  Mitrade
Yesterday 05: 54
​Bitcoin's recent drop below $90,000 may signal a market bottom, according to industry leaders.
placeholder
Top 3 Price Prediction: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple – BTC, ETH and XRP Look for a Foothold After a Sharp ShakeoutBitcoin trades near $92,600 after a dip below $90,000, while Ethereum around $3,118 and XRP near $2.21–$2.23 sit on key support zones, as BTC, ETH and XRP all try to turn a sharp correction into a tradable rebound rather than a deeper slide.
Author  Mitrade
Yesterday 06: 52
Bitcoin trades near $92,600 after a dip below $90,000, while Ethereum around $3,118 and XRP near $2.21–$2.23 sit on key support zones, as BTC, ETH and XRP all try to turn a sharp correction into a tradable rebound rather than a deeper slide.
placeholder
Gold Price Forecast: XAU/USD edges higher above $4,100 ahead of delayed US September NFP reportGold price (XAU/USD) attracts some buyers to around $4,110 during the early Asian session on Thursday. The precious metal gains momentum amid the cautious mood and uncertainty over the US economy. Traders will closely monitor the US September Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) later on Thursday. 
Author  FXStreet
13 hours ago
Gold price (XAU/USD) attracts some buyers to around $4,110 during the early Asian session on Thursday. The precious metal gains momentum amid the cautious mood and uncertainty over the US economy. Traders will closely monitor the US September Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) later on Thursday. 
placeholder
Even As Bitcoin's Price Falls, Michael Saylor Feels 'Indestructible'The price of Bitcoin dipped below $89,000, setting a new weekly low as corporate buyer Strategy remains bullish.
Author  Mitrade
12 hours ago
The price of Bitcoin dipped below $89,000, setting a new weekly low as corporate buyer Strategy remains bullish.
placeholder
Could XRP Really Catch Ethereum? Analysts Revisit the Question as ETF Tailwinds BuildAs US spot XRP ETFs roll out and issuers like Canary Capital and Franklin Templeton step in, analysts say XRP’s market cap could climb on growing utility and ETF accumulation—but overtaking Ethereum’s $373 billion smart-contract powerhouse remains a long-shot, at least for now.
Author  Mitrade
12 hours ago
As US spot XRP ETFs roll out and issuers like Canary Capital and Franklin Templeton step in, analysts say XRP’s market cap could climb on growing utility and ETF accumulation—but overtaking Ethereum’s $373 billion smart-contract powerhouse remains a long-shot, at least for now.
goTop
quote