FTC Sues Zillow and Redfin Over Alleged $100M Anticompetitive Deal

The Federal Trade Commission has launched an antitrust lawsuit against real estate giants Zillow and Rocket Companies' Redfin unit. Regulators allege a $100 million February 2025 agreement created an illegal monopoly in online rental advertising, triggering immediate stock declines of 4.5% and 3.8% respectively.

At the heart of the complaint lies Zillow's alleged payment to Redfin for exclusive control over multifamily rental listings. The arrangement purportedly required Redfin to terminate existing advertising contracts and refrain from competition for up to nine years. Such consolidation in a market dominated by these two platforms could lead to higher costs and reduced service quality for renters and property managers.

The lawsuit further claims Redfin conducted mass layoffs following the agreement. This legal action underscores growing regulatory scrutiny of tech-driven market consolidation, though no direct cryptocurrency implications emerge from this particular case.