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Is MrBeast Buying TikTok?

YouTube superstar MrBeast, aka Jimmy Donaldson, is reportedly exploring the purchase of TikTok with support from billionaire investors. This move follows his cryptic tweet: “Okay, fine, I’ll buy TikTok so it doesn’t get banned.”

Donaldson’s lawyer confirmed an offer is in the works. However, with TikTok’s valuation nearing $300 billion, the YouTuber’s $500 million net worth would require significant financial backing.

The clock is ticking as ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent, must sell the platform by Sunday or face a U.S. ban under national security concerns. Whether MrBeast can save the platform remains to be seen.

You can read more on the matter here.

What’s going on?

• Mark Carney Quits Brookfield For A Liberal Leadership Bid (theDeepDive)

• Goldman Sachs Gives Solomon $80 Million to Stay (WSJ)

• Orano Signs Agreement For New Mine In Mongolia Under Joint Venture (theDeepDive)

• UK to raise price of travel permits for EU visitors by 60% (FT)

• Russia Central Bank Denies Plans to Freeze Deposits (theDeepDive)

• Poilievre pledges to roll back capital gains tax hike, retaliate against Trump tariffs (Globe)

• British Oil Giant BP Cuts Nearly 5% of Workforce “To Simplify” Operations (theDeepDive)

• SpaceX Ship Explodes During Test Flight (WSJ)

• Cannabis Sector Faces $2.5 Billion Debt Test in 2026, Analysis Shows (theDeepDive)

• Brussels orders X to hand over documents on algorithm (FT)

• Canada Reports 50,000 Foreign Students as ‘No-Shows’ (theDeepDive)

What’s the latest?

• Crypto: Bitcoin surged above $103,995, up over 3% Friday, amid reports of a potential executive order by President-elect Donald Trump prioritizing crypto policy, according to Coin Metrics. The CoinDesk 20 index rose 1%, following a 4% gain Thursday, while litecoin jumped 26% in two days. Bitcoin ETFs saw over $1 billion in inflows this week, and investors anticipate further gains as policy announcements approach, with Bitcoin nearing its December record of $108,327.

• EVs: Global EV sales growth slowed to 24% in 2024, down from 33% in 2023, driven by reduced government subsidies and cost concerns, particularly in Europe and the U.S., where EVs are 27–30% more expensive than traditional cars. China dominated the market, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the 17.2 million EVs sold globally, with battery costs there averaging $94 per kWh compared to significantly higher prices in Europe and North America. Automakers have scaled back EV ambitions, with combined targets for 2030 reduced by over 3 million units. However, projections for 2025 show a rebound to 30% sales growth, aided by new affordable models and policy adjustments.

• Layoffs: Hudson’s Bay has laid off 41 employees, citing "challenging headwinds" in the retail industry. This follows prior workforce reductions, including a 1% cut last April and additional layoffs in the summer. The Toronto-based retailer has also scaled back expansion plans, including withdrawing from a Vancouver Oakridge Park store project. These moves align with restructuring efforts, such as spinning off brands into Saks Global.

• TD Bank: Toronto-Dominion Bank is advancing the start date for its new CEO, Raymond Chun, to February 1 and has slashed executive pay by C$30 million following a money-laundering scandal. The scandal resulted in C$3.1 billion in fines, a canceled $13.4 billion acquisition, and $350 million spent on compliance upgrades in 2024, with an additional $500 million expected in 2025. Outgoing CEO Bharat Masrani’s pay dropped from C$13.3 million to C$1.5 million, accounting for over a third of the reductions. Five directors, including board chair Alan MacGibbon, will leave, and four new directors are set to join after the April 2025 shareholders’ meeting.

• TikTok Ban: The U.S. Supreme Court upheld a law requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok by January 19, citing national security concerns over data collection and ties to China. If ByteDance refuses, service providers like Apple and Google must block updates, effectively disabling the app. TikTok has 170 million U.S. users, and a sale could cost buyers $40–$50 billion, per CFRA Research estimates.

GOLD: The World's Most Exciting Undeveloped Mining Project?

The stock market and stuff

• Rio Tinto-Glencore Merger Reportedly In Discussion, Poised To Topple BHP As Largest Copper Miner (theDeepDive)

• Bank of Canada pledges to change approach to purchasing programs, extraordinary forward guidance (Globe)

• Lundin Mining Produces Record Copper And Zinc In 2024 (theDeepDive)

• US sues Pepsi over exclusive discounts to Walmart (Reuters)

• SEC Set for Crypto Policy Overhaul Under Trump (theDeepDive)

In the juniors

• PJX Resources' Drilling Confirms the Geological Potential to Discover a Sedex Deposit on the Dewdney Trail Property (JMN)

• First Majestic Closes Acquisition of Gatos Silver Creating Leading Intermediate Silver Producer (theDeepDive)

• Eminent Gold's First Drill Hole Hits Significant Gold-Arsenic in Getchell Trend Analogue and Commences Second Hole at Hot Springs Range Project (JMN)

FULL DISCLOSURE: Power Nickel is a client of Canacom Group, the parent company of The Deep Dive. Canacom Group is currently long the equity of Power Nickel. The author has been compensated to cover Power Nickel on The Deep Dive, with The Deep Dive having full editorial control. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. We may buy or sell securities in the company at any time. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security.