Online resale app Vinted is seeing a tectonic shift in consumer behavior as habits are formed around the resale economy, the company’s head of marketplace told CNBC on Monday.
Vinted, a consumer-to-consumer platform that allows customers to sell unwanted items such as clothing, electronics, and even furniture, has grown rapidly in recent years, driven by more consumers seeking value amid rising global costs of living.
Last year, the value of items sold on Vinted increased by nearly 50% as Vinted launched in more European markets.
“This is a fundamental shift in the consumption of second-hand goods, and I think it’s here to stay,” Vinted Marketplace CEO Adam Jay told CNBC. “Vinted was growing long before the current economic hardships, cost of living crisis and inflation, and continues to thrive despite hardship and stress.”
His comments came as Vinted completed an 880 million euro ($1.02 billion) secondary share transaction in late April, valuing the Lithuanian startup at more than $9 billion.
Vinted’s rapid growth and multibillion-dollar valuation have fueled intense speculation about the possibility of a major IPO.
The company’s strong financial health also means there is little pressure to go public anytime soon, as it is flush with cash and able to raise nearly €1 billion in private capital.
Executives have hinted at an upcoming IPO, but have not disclosed a timeline. Jay said he is happy with the current investors, but declined to comment on the timing or location of a potential IPO.
The secondary transaction, led by EQT, will see Schroders Capital and black rocksaw existing shareholders like Baillie Gifford rise to prominence.
Vinted said at the time that it brought in “long-term institutional investors who can hold across private and public markets while providing liquidity to existing shareholders and employees.” The company did not raise any new primary capital in this transaction.
Expanding beyond fashion and Europe
Online used clothing is growing rapidly, twice as fast as the overall market, according to market research firm GlobalData.
Jay said part of the reason for the explosive growth is that the used market is a win-win for buyers and sellers. “This habit formation has huge social impacts, climate impacts, and that combines into the Vinted equation.”
Vinted coined the term “Vinted math” to refer to consumers who view second-hand goods as an easier and more affordable option and consider resale value when purchasing new items.
According to the company’s 2025 Impact Report, Vinted users saved €21.6 billion on fashion compared to retail prices in 2025, paying on average 72% less than the original price.
Vinted is now taking its formula across the Atlantic and into new categories.
“It took us a long time to decide to move beyond fashion. We needed to be confident that our fashion market was working properly across Europe,” Jay said.
“We were nervous because a lot of what our members say they love about Vinted is that it’s simple, easy to use, and the mechanics are very clear. We were worried that if we started layering in other categories, we’d lose that.”
Ultimately, they had enough signals to make the leap, including feedback from users who had been getting creative with selling non-fashion items even before Vinted officially expanded beyond apparel.
LONDON, UK – JUNE 8: Adam Jay, CEO of Vinted Marketplace, speaks with attendees during an interview on the opening day of London Tech Week at Olympia, London, UK, on June 8, 2026. Home to some of the world’s biggest technology companies, including Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, and Google Cloud, London Tech Week brings together industry innovators, policymakers, and investors to discuss the latest advances in the world of technology. This year’s Deep Tech Stage will feature innovations in the fields of space, robotics, science, quantum, and AI. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)
Leon Neal | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Vinted is currently available in 26 countries, with France and the UK being the largest markets. The company has had a presence in the U.S. since 2013, but it wasn’t until this year that it started actively marketing its products and growing the market.
There is a “huge opportunity” in the U.S., but success “could take weeks, months, even years,” Jay said.
It has historically been difficult for European technology and consumer companies to successfully bring their business models to the United States.
Jay said one of the biggest challenges in venturing into the U.S. market is high transportation costs.
Vinted is also building out its shipping and payments infrastructure through Vinted Go and Vinted Pay. Logistics, wallet infrastructure, and expansion into new markets are impacting the company’s revenue.
Net profit in 2025 decreased by 19% compared to the previous year. Despite this, sales increased by 38% to 1.1 billion euros. Gross merchandise value (GMV) increased by 47% to €10.8 billion.
Additionally, the platform still has a ways to go before it can compete with: eBayreported that its GMV in 2025 will be $79.6 billion. EBay also recently announced plans to acquire fashion marketplace Depop. Etsy The company invested approximately $1.2 billion to strengthen its fashion products and attract younger customers.
“We’re here for the long term,” Jay said in response to a question about whether rapid expansion was the best use of capital for a company targeting the public markets. “We’re trying to make investments, all of which are unsexy, and we’re trying to make unsexy investments where used goods are the first choice around the world.”
