eBay acquires sneaker authenticator

Global commerce leader eBay has acquired an authenticator business to ensure the validity of the most popular footwear on its platform

eBay has acquired Sneaker Con's authentication business, a leading sneaker authenticator with operations in the US,UK, Canada, Australia and Germany.

The acquisition is an extension of the ongoing collaboration between eBay and Sneaker Con, which has been critical to powering eBay's Authenticity Guarantee. The service, which eBay launched in October 2020, offers full vetting and verification of select sneakers bought on the marketplace by a team of Sneaker Con's industry experts.

Growth

Authenticity Guarantee has significantly changed the way people buy and sell sneakers on eBay, as evidenced by quarter over quarter category growth. In just over a year, more than 1.55 million sneakers have been authenticated globally on eBay.

Jordan Sweetnam, SVP and GM of eBay North America, said: "The response to our authentication offering has been overwhelming, and this acquisition allows us to continue to transform eBay and bring a higher level of trust and confidence to every transaction."