In a striking sign of global investor confidence in Chinese tech giants, ByteDance — the parent company of TikTok — has been valued at a staggering $550 billion in a proposed share sale by U.S. investment firm General Atlantic. This valuation, revealed in market sources and Reuters reporting on 25 February 2026, reflects a significant surge in ByteDance’s private market worth and underscores its rising dominance in social media and artificial intelligence.
The planned transaction marks one of the largest secondary market stakes in a privately held tech company. General Atlantic, which initially invested in ByteDance back in 2017 when the company’s worth was around $20 billion, has started the process of selling part of its equity as some of its funds near the end of their typical lifecycle. The stake sale — expected to close by March 2026 — does not yet have publicly disclosed financial terms or the exact percentage of shares being sold.
What makes this $550 billion valuation especially noteworthy is how far ByteDance has climbed in value over recent years. The figure represents roughly a 66 per cent increase compared with a valuation of just over $330 billion set during a share buyback in 2025, and about 15 per cent higher than a secondary market deal that priced the company at $480 billion in late 2025. These numbers illustrate not only ByteDance’s sharp growth trajectory but also rising investor appetite for stakes in leading private technology firms.
This proposed sale comes after a major restructuring of ByteDance’s operations in the United States. In January 2026, U.S. regulatory approvals cleared the sale of TikTok’s U.S. business, making it majority American-owned and ending years of national security concerns and potential bans. The General Atlantic share sale is the first major post-restructuring equity transaction and could serve as a key signal of market confidence in ByteDance’s long-term prospects.
Analysts point out that ByteDance’s business performance underpins this valuation surge. The company, known globally for its short-video platform TikTok and its Chinese counterpart Douyin, has expanded its revenues and influence far beyond social media. ByteDance is also emerging as a leader in consumer AI applications with products like its Doubao chatbot, and its annual profits for 2025 are projected to reach around $48 billion — figures that now rival or exceed some of its global competitors in revenue.
Despite these strong indicators, it’s important to understand that ByteDance’s valuation remains opaque and unofficial, as the company has not yet gone public. In private secondary market transactions — where existing investors sell shares to new buyers — the price paid by purchasers becomes one of the few real measures of a company’s worth. Those inside the industry view these deals as important barometers of investor sentiment, especially for companies like ByteDance that have significant global influence but remain out of public stock exchanges.
General Atlantic’s decision to sell part of its stake also reflects broader trends in venture capital and private equity: many funds operate on fixed lifecycles, typically about a decade, after which they are expected to return capital to their investors. A successful sale at a lofty price not only rewards early backers but also paves the way for new investors to enter the cap table ahead of a potential initial public offering (IPO).
This valuation surge and stake sale discussion come amid a competitive technology landscape where ByteDance stands shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the world’s largest social media and AI players. With backing from major financial firms — including KKR, Susquehanna International Group, Primavera Capital Group, and others — ByteDance’s growth story continues to unfold as a centerpiece of global tech news.
As markets watch this landmark evaluation, investors, analysts, and tech observers alike will be closely following how the General Atlantic transaction plays out and what it means for ByteDance’s future — including any eventual move toward public markets.