# Axel Springer Says It Would Have Welcomed a TikTok Europe Role By John Kim Canonical URL: https://www.tokenpost.com/news/business/39265 Published: 2026-10-23T19:50:33.000Z Updated: 2026-10-23T19:50:33.000Z Section: Business > ByteDance called an allegation that CEO Mathias Döpfner proposed Axel Springer’s participation “a total fabrication.” Neither comment announced a European transaction or change to TikTok’s crypto ad rules. Axel Springer said it would have welcomed a role in a hypothetical European TikTok restructuring; ByteDance rejected an allegation that Springer proposed a role, and no deal or crypto ad-policy change was announced. The comments came Thursday, Oct. 22. People familiar with the discussions alleged that Axel Springer CEO Mathias Döpfner proposed the publisher take part in a deal involving TikTok’s European operations. Springer’s public response voiced general support for a European solution modeled on the U.S. arrangement, but it did not confirm that specific account. An Axel Springer spokesperson said the company “would have welcomed the opportunity” to join such a plan. A ByteDance spokesperson called the allegation “a total fabrication.” The statements did not establish a formal European bid or sale. TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC was established Jan. 23, 2026, as a majority-American-owned entity, with ByteDance retaining a 19.9% stake. Oracle, Silver Lake and MGX each hold 15% stakes in the U.S. venture. It oversees U.S. user-data protection, algorithm security, content moderation and software assurance. The [U.S. venture arrangement]() is a completed precedent for the structure Springer referenced; it does not establish a European deal. TikTok reached 189 million people each month across the European Union from January through June 2026. That figure covers the first half of the year. TikTok’s financial-services ad policy sets country-specific limits for crypto promotions. The September 2026 policy permits TikTok to approve applications for ads promoting licensed crypto exchanges and custodial wallets in France, Germany and Austria; such ads may target adults only. Targeting must be limited to adults. Ads for virtual currencies such as Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH) are prohibited in those markets. EU requirements operate separately from TikTok’s own approval rules. MiCA Article 7 sets standards for marketing tied to covered public crypto-asset offers or trading admissions: communications must be identifiable, fair, clear, not misleading and consistent with any required white paper. On Dec. 5, 2025, TikTok’s ad-transparency commitments became binding after acceptance by the European Commission. Under the commitments, TikTok must maintain a searchable repository containing full ad content and targeting criteria, with updates within 24 hours. ## Links in this article - [U.S. venture arrangement](https://www.tokenpost.com/news/business/29499)