Pokémon cards are becoming multibillion dollar market. Crypto wants to fix how they trade
The market for Pokémon trading cards has surged into a multibillion-dollar industry, outperforming traditional assets like bitcoin and the S&P 500. Retailers are struggling with high demand and scalping, while the crypto industry is exploring ways to modernize the trading and verification of these collectibles.
Why it matters
The shift of trading cards into an alternative asset class highlights changing consumer investment behaviors and the growing intersection between physical collectibles and digital financial technology.
The buyers aren't here for a bulk deal on toilet paper or groceries. They’re waiting to be the first to get their hands on boxes of Pokémon cards, specifically the "Prismatic Evolutions" cards, selling around C$100 each. On secondary marketplaces such as Facebook Marketplace, the cards often get listed for several times their retail price.
And just recently, popular influencer Logan Paul sold a rare Pokémon card, a Pikachu Illustrator, for $16.5 million dollars, reportedly earning him more than $8 million in profit. The buyer? AJ Scaramucci , founder of venture capital firm Solari Capital and son of financier Anthony Scaramucci.
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