Whatnot

Tilt, a London-based livestream auction app, enables sellers to host real-time auctions for items like sneakers and designer clothing, with Gen Z entrepreneurs earning up to $260,000 monthly. Success stories include a 17-year-old scaling to $100,000 in months and a 22-year-old with health challenges surpassing $100,000 in sales.

Goodwill processes over 4.4 billion pounds of donations annually, using AI tools to sell high-value items online before retail, impacting resellers. Some resellers earn six figures from vintage clothes, while others use Whatnot, a platform with $6 billion in 2025 sales.

Multiple states have passed laws to combat organized retail crime, including creating new criminal offenses, increasing penalties, and establishing task forces. The legislation addresses evolving threats like cargo theft, gift card fraud, and e-commerce schemes, with examples such as a $1 million seizure of stolen merchandise in Los Angeles linked to the platform Whatnot.

Live shopping startup Whatnot is in talks to raise a new funding round at a $20 billion valuation, up from $11.5 billion last year. The company reported $8 billion in live sales in 2023 and is backed by investors including Andreessen Horowitz and Sequoia Capital.

States are enacting new laws to combat organized retail crime, including gift card fraud and cargo theft, by increasing penalties and forming specialized task forces. Recent seizures of stolen goods, such as a $1 million haul in Los Angeles linked to an e-commerce resale scheme, highlight the growing sophistication of these crimes.

Over a dozen U.S. states have passed legislation this year to combat organized retail crime, including creating new criminal offenses, increasing penalties, and establishing task forces. The measures address evolving tactics like cargo theft, gift card fraud, and e-commerce schemes, exemplified by a $1 million seizure in Los Angeles linked to stolen merchandise from brands such as ALO and SKIMS. Shoplifting rates in 2026 rose 4% compared to 2025, with organized theft rings using sophisticated methods like hacking into merchandise delivery systems.

Over a dozen states have passed new laws to combat organized retail crime and gift card fraud, including harsher penalties and specialized task forces. Authorities have seized millions in stolen goods, and reports indicate rising shoplifting incidents linked to sophisticated theft rings.

States are strengthening laws and law enforcement efforts to combat organized retail crime, including gift card fraud and cargo theft. Over a dozen states passed legislation this year to create new offenses, increase penalties, and establish task forces. The Los Angeles Police Department recently seized $1 million in stolen merchandise linked to an e-commerce resale scheme.

States are enacting new laws to combat organized retail crime, including gift card fraud and cargo theft, with over a dozen states creating criminal offenses and specialized task forces this year. Authorities have reported seizures of stolen goods worth millions and noted rising shoplifting rates in 2026 compared to 2025.

States are expanding efforts to combat organized retail crime through new legislation, harsher penalties, and specialized task forces. The crimes include cargo theft, gift card fraud, and sophisticated schemes like hijacking freight shipments. Recent seizures, such as $1 million in stolen merchandise in Los Angeles, highlight the growing scale of these operations.

A Whatnot seller named 'Mythic Moon Jewelry' was accused of scamming customers by selling copper jewelry labeled as .925 silver. An XRF scan revealed the item contained only 0.44% silver, with the majority being copper, cadmium, and titanium. The seller dismissed the complaint and blocked the buyer, though the platform issued a refund.

A Whatnot user received a scam message claiming they won a sneaker giveaway, prompting them to provide personal and payment information. The scammer offered expedited shipping options and insisted on payment via Chime or Zelle before the user blocked the number and confirmed it was a known scam. The user later discovered the scammer's number was linked to Kentucky and a Bulgarian individual on Facebook.

Marty Christopher McDaniel and Kenny Price are charged with conspiring to sell stolen retail goods from 2020 to 2024 through McDaniel's business, The Gold King, using online platforms like eBay and Mercari. They allegedly purchased stolen items from 'boosters' and resold them, generating over $580,000 in profits.

Whatnot, a live commerce marketplace, has reached an $11.5 billion valuation and achieved one billion orders since its 2020 launch. The platform reported significant growth, including 20 million new accounts and a 285% increase in first-time buyers.

Twitch CEO Dan Clancy criticized social media as 'anti-social,' emphasizing live streaming's ability to foster real-time human connection. He and Whatnot CEO Grant LaFontaine highlighted their platforms' focus on shared experiences, contrasting with addictive social media formats. Both leaders discussed challenges in monetizing live-streaming engagement and addressed AI's limited threat to human creators.

Whatnot has gained popularity among Americans with its livestream shopping platform, offering a unique and engaging experience. The platform allows users to interact with products and sellers in real-time, creating a sense of community and excitement. This innovative approach has contributed to Whatnot's growing success.