TikTok parent ByteDance has hit a record high valuation of more than $600 billion.

The South China Morning Post reported on April 8 that ByteDance’s valuation rose further from about $550 billion as investment demand surged during a stake sale process being pursued by one of the company’s founding members.

The deal aims to transfer about $900 million worth of shares. Several people familiar with the matter said the seller initially set ByteDance’s valuation at $550 billion but raised the sale price as investor interest continued. They also raised the possibility that the final deal could be struck at an even higher valuation.

Several buyers are in talks over acquiring the stake, but the deal has not been finalised. ByteDance did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The push for the stake sale is drawing attention because it comes after ByteDance maintained its core business despite global regulatory risks. ByteDance established the TikTok USDS Joint Venture in January to keep operating in the U.S. market. ByteDance holds 19.9 percent of the entity, while Oracle, Silver Lake and MGX each hold 15 percent. Existing ByteDance investor affiliates retain a 30.1 percent stake. Commercial activities such as e-commerce, advertising and marketing were left under the existing U.S. entity.

ByteDance’s valuation has seen sharp swings in recent years. In April 2021 it approached $400 billion as the possibility of listing Douyin, TikTok’s sister app in China, was discussed, but it later fell to around $300 billion as its initial public offering plans were put on hold. It then rebounded to around $400 billion in the second quarter of 2025, helped by a restructuring of its U.S. business and results from its artificial intelligence business.

The uptrend continued. In November last year, a Chinese investment firm bought a stake at a valuation of about $480 billion, confirming investment demand in the unlisted market. In February, early investor General Atlantic was reported to have pursued a stake sale based on a $550 billion valuation.

Against this backdrop, the latest transaction is becoming another catalyst for raising ByteDance’s unlisted valuation. The deal has yet to be finalised, but participation by multiple investors in the sale of a founder shareholder’s stake has prompted assessments that ByteDance’s valuation is setting a new benchmark that reflects its U.S. business restructuring and AI growth potential.