Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit, has recently expressed interest in acquiring TikTok’s U.S. operations and integrating it with blockchain technology. On March 4, 2025, Ohanian announced via X that he has joined a consortium, known as “The People’s Bid for TikTok,” led by billionaire Frank McCourt under Project Liberty. The goal is to purchase TikTok U.S. and transition it “on-chain” using the Frequency blockchain protocol, which is built on Polkadot’s infrastructure.

This move aims to give TikTok’s 170 million U.S. users greater control over their data and content, aligning with Ohanian’s vision of empowering creators and decentralizing social media. Ohanian has emphasized that “users should own their data” and “creators should own their audience,” suggesting that blockchain integration could make TikTok more transparent and creator driven.

Decentralized social media refers to platforms built on distributed technologies, like blockchain or peer-to-peer networks, where control isn’t concentrated in a single entity (e.g., a corporation like Meta or X). Instead, data, governance, and operations are spread across a network of users, aiming to enhance privacy, user ownership, and resistance to censorship. The idea ties into Alexis Ohanian’s recent proposal to put TikTok on the Frequency blockchain, but it’s part of a broader movement.

The Frequency protocol is intended to serve as the backbone of this redesigned platform, prioritizing privacy, security, and digital independence. This isn’t Ohanian’s first venture into blockchain; Reddit previously experimented with Ethereum-based “Community Points” and Polygon-based NFT avatars, though some of these initiatives were scaled back or discontinued.

Unlike centralized platforms where a company stores your data on its servers, decentralized social media uses protocols where: Data Ownership: Users control their content and personal info, often stored on distributed ledgers or personal nodes, not corporate databases. Interactions happen directly between users via the network, reducing reliance on a central authority. Many platforms use cryptocurrencies or tokens to reward creators, incentivize moderation, or fund development (e.g., Steemit with STEEM).

A federated network of independent servers (instances) where users can host their own communities, interoperating via the ActivityPub protocol. It’s not blockchain-based but decentralized in structure. Ohanian’s pitch to move TikTok to Frequency (a Polkadot-based chain) fits this trend. Frequency is designed for high-throughput social data, claiming to handle large-scale interactions while keeping things decentralized. The idea is to let TikTok’s 170 million U.S. users own their digital identities and content, potentially using tokens or NFTs to represent value. It’s ambitious—TikTok’s centralized infrastructure is a speed demon; porting it to blockchain would require massive reengineering.

The bid comes amid ongoing pressure from the U.S. government on TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest its U.S. operations due to national security concerns. While the proposal is ambitious, challenges remain, including the technical feasibility of adapting TikTok’s massive platform to blockchain infrastructure and navigating regulatory hurdles. Ohanian’s involvement reflects his long-standing interest in decentralized digital ecosystems, but whether this vision will come to fruition is still uncertain as the acquisition process is in its early stages, competing with other potential buyers like Microsoft and Oracle.

Decentralized social media has been hyped for years (remember Diaspora?), but adoption lags. Mastodon has about 1.5 million monthly active users, a fraction of X’s 400 million or TikTok’s 1 billion+. Tech hurdles, like blockchain’s transaction costs and latency, plus user inertia, keep centralized giants dominant. Still, with figures like Ohanian pushing it, and regulatory pressure on apps like TikTok, the concept’s getting fresh momentum. Whether it’s practical or just Web3 buzz remains the big question.

Samsung is set to launch its highly anticipated extended reality (XR) headset, known as Project Moohan, later this year, according to a company spokesperson who spoke to CNBC on Tuesday.

The device marks Samsung’s ambitious entry into the evolving XR market, directly challenging Apple’s $3,500 Vision Pro, which launched last year.

Samsung first teased the Project Moohan headset last year but unveiled it publicly for the first time at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona this year. The XR device aims to merge the digital and physical worlds, offering an immersive experience through advanced visual and interactive technology.

Innovative Features and Design

While Samsung has not disclosed full specifications, the physical device features four cameras on the front lens and what appears to be touch controls on its side. The company collaborated with tech giants Qualcomm and Google to develop the Android XR platform, a new operating system designed for XR devices.

The headset will also integrate Google Gemini, providing a “conversational user interface” allowing users to interact with Google’s AI assistant, potentially enhancing navigation through apps and tasks. The presence of multiple cameras suggests the device could support gesture controls similar to those on Apple’s Vision Pro.

Patrick Chomet, Executive Vice President of Samsung’s Mobile Division, emphasized the role of intelligence in the device’s functionality.

“To me, the breakthrough technology is a combination of advanced vision capability with intelligence that understands user intention. I think without the intelligence part, it’s a defective product,” Chomet told CNBC.

His statement reflects the broader vision of the tech industry, where AI-powered digital assistants play a critical role in delivering a seamless user experience.

A Fresh Attempt at XR After Early VR Ventures

Samsung was one of the early entrants into the virtual reality (VR) space, having launched its Gear VR headset in partnership with Oculus in 2015. However, the VR market did not expand as rapidly as expected, leading to a quiet retreat from that segment.

With advancements in display and processing technologies, the XR market is gaining renewed interest from major tech players. Samsung is hoping that its new XR headset, coupled with sophisticated AI and gesture control, will capture the growing market for mixed and extended reality devices.

Competing with Apple and the Future of XR

Apple’s Vision Pro, which debuted at $3,500, has set a high bar in the XR space, offering advanced hand tracking, eye control, and immersive displays. Samsung’s Project Moohan will likely be closely compared to the Vision Pro, particularly in functionality, user interface, and price point.

During a presentation in January, Samsung hinted at a broader product roadmap, including a trifold smartphone and potential smart glasses. These smart glasses could represent a future direction for the XR lineup, offering similar experiences to a headset but in a more compact and wearable form factor.

Industry analysts believe Samsung’s entry into the XR market could invigorate competition and potentially lower prices for consumers.

“Samsung’s partnership with Qualcomm and Google gives it a strong foundation in hardware and software integration, which could be critical for the success of Project Moohan,” said Jitesh Ubrani, a research manager at IDC.

“The XR market is still in its infancy, and while Apple has positioned itself as a premium leader, Samsung’s strategy might focus on accessibility and integration with its broader ecosystem of devices,” Ubrani added.

Despite the hype, XR devices still face challenges in mainstream adoption. Price, comfort, battery life, and the breadth of applications are critical factors that could determine the success of Project Moohan. Samsung’s focus on combining advanced vision technology with intelligent interfaces could offer a unique value proposition.

As the tech world awaits the official launch and pricing details of Project Moohan, the XR market appears poised for a new wave of competition that could accelerate the development of augmented and mixed reality technologies, pushing them closer to everyday use for consumers.