Take rate (or rake) is the share of gross merchandise value a platform captures as revenue — for example, a 15% take rate on $100 of GMV yields $15. It is the bridge between marketplace volume and the platform’s actual top line.
Setting take rate is a delicate balance: too high and it pushes participants to transact off-platform; too low and the business cannot fund growth. Defensible platforms earn their rate by adding real value such as trust, payments and demand.