eBay Inc. (NASDAQ: EBAY) is an e-commerce marketplace company that operates online platforms connecting third-party buyers and sellers across consumer-to-consumer, business-to-consumer, and business-to-business transactions. Revenue comes primarily from transaction fees charged on paid sales, first-party advertising, and shipping services. Founded in 1995 in San Jose, California, eBay operates in more than 190 markets and reported approximately $80 billion in Gross Merchandise Volume (GMV) in FY2025, with 135 million active buyers and 2.5 billion live listings as of end of 2025. The company competes against a broad range of online and offline channels including retailers, search engines, auctioneers, and other commerce platforms. eBay employs approximately 12,300 people globally as of December 31, 2025, of which approximately 7,200 are in the United States. The business also offers seller financial services through a Seller Capital program, which had provided more than $1 billion in cumulative funding to small businesses since inception as of the FY2025 10-K filing.

Revenue model

Transaction fees on paid sales, first-party advertising sold to sellers, and shipping services. Transactional and ad-supported model with no buyer-side subscription requirement.

Products and services

Online marketplace at ebay.com and localized counterparts, mobile apps, off-platform marketplaces, first-party advertising tools and dashboards, Seller Capital financing program, integrated shipping solutions, and AI-assisted listing tools including Generative AI for title and description creation.

Customers and end markets

135 million active buyers globally (as of end of FY2025). Sellers include small businesses, individual sellers, and commercial merchants across consumer-to-consumer, business-to-consumer, and business-to-business channels. End markets include general merchandise, collectibles, recommerce, and cross-border trade.

Value-chain role

Third-party marketplace operator and technology platform. eBay does not hold inventory; it facilitates transactions between independent buyers and sellers and earns fees on completed transactions.

Geographic exposure

Operations in more than 190 markets globally as of FY2025. Subject to regulatory requirements in the United States, European Union, United Kingdom, and China.

Competitors

Retailers, Distributors, Liquidators, Auctioneers, Search engines, Catalog and mail-order companies, Other online and mobile commerce platforms

Source: SEC 10-K, filed 2026-02-19

Industry: Services-Business Services, NEC Peers: Amazon.com Inc Revolve Group Inc Chewy Inc DoorDash Inc ETSY Inc Poshmark, Inc. Vivid Seats Inc Xometry Inc Wayfair Inc