eBay is acquiring TCGplayer, one of the largest trading card marketplaces

Image: eBay

The companies announced that eBay will acquire TCGplayer. The deal is worth up to $295 million and is eBay's latest push into the trading card market.

Trading card games like Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and Magic: The Gathering can be bought and sold on TCGplayer. Storage and order fulfillment are included in the company's offerings. The category of trading card games was described by eBay as an attractive one.

"This new chapter allows us to continue operating independently within eBay, while also benefiting from their decades of industry experience and resources to deepen the connection between hobbyists and their communities," said Chedy Hampson, founder and CEO of TCGplayer.

A number of programs focused on collectible trading cards have been launched by eBay in the last few months. In May, the platform expanded its authenticity guarantee to include graded cards worth over $2,000 and said it would partner with Professional Sports Authenticator. eBay Vault is a temperature controlled facility where buyers and sellers can store their graded trading cards.

Though trading cards have had an enthusiastic community that buys, trades, and resells cards, the pandemic put it into overdrive, overwhelming retailers and graded companies alike. eBay's acquisition of a major competitor suggests the company believes there is still money to be made.