The gaming world was taken by surprise as SkinBid, a popular Counter-Strike 2 skin marketplace, declared bankruptcy after just four years in the industry. This development marks a significant shift for players who relied on SkinBid for secure trading of in-game items.
SkinBid’s Closure Announced
Owned by renowned CS2 streamer Mark ‘ohnePixel’ Zimmerman and Oliver ‘zipeL’ Behrensdorff, SkinBid officially entered bankruptcy proceedings on November 21st, 2025, following Danish legal protocols. Reports suggest the marketplace will remain operational for users to withdraw their remaining balances and items, with a deadline set for December 5th to ensure items are not lost. The abrupt decision follows a challenging period within the Counter-Strike skin market, especially after Valve’s introduction of a Trade-up contract in October.
Impact on the CS2 Skin Market
The introduction of the Trade-up contract by Valve, allowing players to exchange five Covert skins for a chance to obtain a knife or gloves, has significantly impacted the skin economy. This development led to a dramatic halving in value of CS2’s skin economy, though it is now slowly bouncing back, boasting a market cap of $5.4 billion (~£4.08 billion). SkinBid’s closure serves as a reminder of the volatility in this niche market.
CS2 Skins In 2025
Despite the setback of SkinBid’s closure, the market for CS2 skins remains vibrant, with ongoing partnerships and opportunities. Recent months have seen Team Vitality collaborate with Skin.Land and BIG extend its existing agreement with SkinBaron. These moves highlight a continued enthusiasm and investment in the CS2 skin marketplace.