eBay Acquires Depop for $1.4 Billion to Reach Gen Z

eBay announced the completion of its acquisition of secondhand fashion platform Depop in a cash deal valued at $1.4 billion, in a step that strengthens the e-commerce giant's presence in the fastest-growing sector among fashion categories—the pre-owned clothing and accessories market, which has witnessed remarkable acceleration in recent years, according to reports.

This deal gives eBay immediate access to Depop's user base, which includes millions of Gen Z shoppers known for their preference for secondhand and sustainable fashion as an alternative to cheap fast fashion. The company explained that it plans to maintain Depop's independent identity and distinct community rather than fully integrating it into the main eBay platform.

This acquisition comes amid a rapid growth wave in the circular fashion market, as industry studies project that the global secondhand clothing market size will exceed $350 billion by 2030, driven by cultural shifts toward responsible consumption and a preference for products with stories and history over new ones.

In the same context, analysts believe the acquisition redraws the sector's map, as platforms such as Vinted and ThredUp find themselves facing a competitor with superior technology and a broader infrastructure, which could accelerate market consolidation around fewer major platforms.

What do these terms mean?

**Circular Fashion:** An economic model based on extending the lifecycle of clothing by reselling, renting, or repairing items instead of disposing of them, thereby reducing the industry's environmental impact.

**Gen Z:** The generation born roughly between 1997 and 2012, considered one of the generations most interested in sustainability, secondhand fashion, and buying authentic products via digital platforms.

**Cash Acquisition:** An acquisition deal in which the buying company pays the entire value of the deal in cash without resorting to stock swaps or debt.