Bytedance Delays IPO After Board Consensus in May, Secondary Market Valuation Nears $1 Trillion

According to reports, Bytedance's board reached consensus in early May 2026 to postpone its initial public offering, with founder Zhang Yiming believing the company's valuation still has upside potential. He views the current timing as unfavorable, as going public now would surrender excessive value to late-stage investors with minimal risk.

Bytedance's secondary market valuation has exceeded $600 billion, according to sources monitoring over-the-counter trading activity. A senior technology investment banking executive at Bank of America suggested the company's market value could approach $1 trillion, positioning it as a new industry benchmark. The postponement comes as geopolitical and regulatory headwinds have eased following Oracle and an investor consortium's agreement in early 2026 to acquire 80% of TikTok's U.S. operations.