In a stunning development in the tech world, Yahoo has expressed serious interest in acquiring Google Chrome—yes, the world’s most popular web browser. This unexpected move comes amid the ongoing U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) antitrust trial against Google, which could potentially force the tech giant to divest parts of its business, including Chrome.

The Background

The DOJ’s antitrust lawsuit against Google accuses the company of maintaining a monopoly in search and search advertising. One major point of contention is Chrome’s role in reinforcing Google’s dominance, as it’s the gateway to billions of daily searches. According to court documents and testimony, Google’s integration of its search engine into Chrome’s address bar gives it a huge advantage over competitors.

Now, if the court rules that Google must divest Chrome to level the playing field, Yahoo is ready to pounce.

Why Chrome?

Yahoo’s general manager of search, Brian Provost, revealed during the trial that about 60% of all search queries start in the browser. In response to this reality, Yahoo has already started developing its own prototype browser. However, acquiring an established and massively popular browser like Chrome could instantly catapult Yahoo back into the search game.

Currently, Yahoo holds around 3% of the search engine market share. With Chrome in its arsenal, that number could rise to double digits almost overnight. And while the price tag for Chrome is expected to reach tens of billions of dollars, Yahoo—backed by its parent company Apollo Global Management—believes it can afford the investment.

Yahoo Isn’t Alone

Interestingly, Yahoo isn’t the only company with eyes on Chrome. AI-focused firms like OpenAI and Perplexity have also reportedly shown interest in acquiring the browser. Even DuckDuckGo, the privacy-centric search engine, admitted the value Chrome brings, though it acknowledged that the acquisition is financially out of reach for them.

What This Could Mean

If Yahoo does manage to buy Chrome, the implications would be huge. The browser market—and by extension, the search engine landscape—could shift dramatically. We could see a rise in competition, more innovation, and perhaps a real challenge to Google’s dominance in online search.

But it’s important to remember: nothing has been decided yet. The court has not ordered Google to sell Chrome, and any forced divestiture would likely face legal pushback and a long appeals process.

Still, Yahoo’s interest alone is a major signal that the tech giants are preparing for a possible shake-up.

What do you think? Could Yahoo really make a comeback with Chrome? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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