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GameStop (GME) CEO Cohen Says eBay Shut His Account after Items Listed to “Fund” $56B Bid

Story Highlights
  • GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen said eBay abruptly suspended the retailer’s selling account after he listed personal items to “fund” a surprise $56B takeover bid.
  • He had listed about 25 personal items, each paired with a hand‑signed copy of his takeover proposal letter to eBay’s leadership.
GameStop (GME) CEO Cohen Says eBay Shut His Account after Items Listed to “Fund” $56B Bid

GameStop (GME) CEO Ryan Cohen said that eBay (EBAY) abruptly shut down the video game retailer’s selling account. The move comes just days after he used the platform for a fundraising stunt tied to his surprise $56 billion takeover bid for eBay.

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Cohen posted a screenshot on X showing a notice from eBay that his account had been suspended, citing “activity that we believe was putting the eBay community at risk.”

Earlier in the week, he had listed about 25 personal items, including a pair of socks, claiming he was raising money to help finance GameStop’s unsolicited offer. The listings quickly drew thousands of bids totaling thousands of dollars. Also, each item included a hand-signed copy of Cohen’s takeover proposal letter to eBay’s leadership.

The suspension adds another twist to an already unusual takeover attempt. GameStop, still defined by its 2021 meme‑stock fame, is pursuing one of the boldest deals in recent retail history.

A Stunt That Highlights a Serious Question

The account closure comes as tensions between the two companies rise. GameStop’s bid for eBay, widely seen as a long‑shot attempt to reinvent the struggling retailer, drew skepticism from analysts and investors.

The proposal drew even more attention after investor Michael Burry, once a major GameStop shareholder, criticized the deal’s financial logic and exited his entire position.

The fundraising stunt is unlikely to ease concerns about how GameStop would finance a company roughly four times its size. GameStop offered $125 per share in cash and stock, backed by a non-binding “highly confident” letter from TD Bank for about $20 billion in debt financing.

But analysts continue to question how Cohen plans to secure the remaining capital needed to acquire eBay, which currently carries a market value of about $48 billion.

For now, it remains unclear whether the account was truly suspended and whether the takeover bid will gain any traction.

Is GME Stock a Good Buy?

TipRanks’ AI Analyst maintained a Neutral rating on GME stock with a price target of $23.50 per share. The price target suggests about 3.49% downside from current levels. 

According to TipRanks’ AI Stock Analysis, GameStop stock scores 54 out of 100. The model highlights “improving profitability, stronger cash flow, and a healthier balance sheet” as positives, but weak technical trends and valuation concerns keep the outlook cautious.

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