Tech billionaire Larry Ellison’s Oracle is reportedly a “leading contender to help run TikTok” as the Trump administration works to secure a sale that would avoid a complete ban of the China-owned app.

“If you run faster and pay by the hour, you cost less.” That's according to Oracle chairman and chief technology officer Larry Ellison, who spoke with analysts on Monday following a market rout. Oracle, which is part of the momentous $500 billion Stargate project, was included because it has a major advantage over its competitors, Ellison said.

TikTok has until April to finalize a sale to a U.S.-based buyer, yet uncertainties about the future of the short-form video app remain. However, a new Oracle is reportedly the leading candidate to serve as the cloud technology partner for managing TikTok in the U.