In a significant development within the global resale and e-commerce landscape, Etsy has announced the sale of its popular secondhand clothing marketplace, Depop, to eBay for a hefty price tag of $1.2 billion. This transaction marks nearly five years since Etsy initially acquired Depop in 2019 for approximately $1.62 billion, a move that at the time reflected the explosive growth of the resale industry fueled by shifting consumer values, pandemic-era economic behavior, and a rising cultural emphasis on sustainability.
The decision to divest Depop represents more than a simple exchange of ownership—it indicates a broader realignment among major players in the digital marketplace ecosystem. During the past decade, secondhand fashion platforms such as Depop, Poshmark, and ThredUp have transformed how younger consumers approach clothing consumption, emphasizing environmental consciousness and affordability over fast fashion trends. Etsy’s choice to sell the platform to eBay, one of the original pioneers of online commerce, suggests that both companies are strategically repositioning themselves as the resale sector matures and competition intensifies.
For Etsy, this sale may reflect a desire to refocus on its core strengths—empowering independent artisans, vintage sellers, and small creative businesses through a curated marketplace that thrives on handcrafted and bespoke products. Shifting Depop to eBay’s ownership could allow Etsy to streamline its operations and reinvest in expanding its artisan-based community while freeing eBay to strengthen its renewed dominance in the resale and pre-owned goods arena.
Meanwhile, eBay’s acquisition of Depop positions the company to deepen its reach among younger, Gen Z–driven audiences who view buying and selling secondhand clothing not just as a transaction, but as a cultural movement. With Depop’s vibrant social commerce model—where fashion inspiration and community interaction meet commerce—eBay gains an opportunity to blend its vast infrastructure and global logistics capabilities with a platform renowned for its trend-driven, peer-to-peer experience.
Ultimately, this deal underscores an evolving marketplace where sustainability, creativity, and digital culture continue to intertwine. It invites larger questions about how the circular economy will shape the future of online retail and what strategic partnerships might emerge next among leading e-commerce innovators. As consumer interest in reducing waste and embracing conscious consumption accelerates, the sale of Depop from Etsy to eBay stands as a defining milestone in the ongoing evolution of the sustainable fashion movement and the broader digital resale economy.
Sourse: https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/18/etsy-sells-secondhand-clothing-marketplace-depop-to-ebay-for-1-2b/
