In 2022, a rare Topps 1952 Mickey Mantle baseball card sold for $12.6 million, showcasing the high stakes in the collectibles market. However, a 1998 Pikachu Illustrator Pokémon card recently fetched an astonishing $16.5 million, sold by pro wrestler Logan Paul, who had acquired it for $5.3 million in 2021.

These examples illustrate how trading card games (TCGs), particularly Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering, and Yu-Gi-Oh!, are emerging as attractive investment options in a saturated sports card market. The collectibles landscape is expanding to include vintage and modern non-sports cards depicting various historical and fictional themes.

The record sale of the Pokémon card has drawn attention to the collectibles market, where factors like grading, rarity, and authentication can significantly influence a card's value. Adam Ireland, vice president and general manager of collectibles at eBay, noted, "It is one of our fastest-growing categories that we've seen and one of the largest contributors to [our] growth over the last number of quarters." He added that Pokémon was the most searched term in eBay's collectibles environment during the first half of the year.

Heritage Auctions, which specializes in various collectibles, established a dedicated TCG department six years ago, which has since grown into a $50 million category. Executive vice president Joe Maddalena stated that non-sports cards contributed around $10 million to Heritage's overall sales, which exceeded $2.1 billion in 2025.

While many non-sports cards can be found for under $10, Maddalena and Ireland highlighted some remarkable sales on their platforms. For instance, a first-edition Pokémon Charizard card that was valued at $20,000 before the pandemic is now appraised at $500,000. Additionally, a Tyler the Great Warrior Yu-Gi-Oh! card sold for $311,211 on eBay, and Magic's Black Lotus card reached $500,000.

The collectability and value of sports cards often fluctuate based on athletes' performances, while both trading card genres share common valuation factors. Rookie cards of star athletes are highly sought after, similar to first appearance cards in non-sports categories. Authenticity, physical condition, total graded population, liquidity, and pricing are critical elements evaluated by professional grading services like PSA and CGC Cards.

PSA, the leading grading service since 1991, assesses cards for originality and quality, using a scale from 1 to 10. The rarity of PSA 10 graded cards contributes to their high values. PSA graded over 19 million cards in 2025, a significant increase from two million in 2020, with TCGs accounting for 50% of its business.

To meet rising demand and address turnaround time complaints, PSA's parent company, Collectors, is investing $200 million to enhance PSA's operations, expanding infrastructure and hiring 1,000 new employees, including graders.

The trading card collecting hobby, which dates back over a century, has become increasingly lucrative. ICv2 reported that sales of new TCG products reached $2.5 billion in 2025, with projections nearing $5 billion for the current year, driven by the 30th anniversary of Pokémon.

As baby boomers age, their childhood collections have gained monetary value, leading to a robust marketplace and new investors. Jeff Copeland, a longtime collector, noted that the rising costs of sports cards have prompted collectors to explore non-sports cards, which they remember fondly from their youth. New investors are also entering the market, drawn to characters like Mickey Mouse and Spider-Man.

While nostalgia and camaraderie drive many collectors, the investment community is increasingly focused on trading TCGs. The genre began with Magic in 1993 and has since expanded to include Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh!, among others. Non-sports trading cards cover a diverse range of subjects, with notable sales including a 1966 Donruss Spider-Man card that sold for $175,100 last month.

The growing interest in non-sports cards and TCGs has created a market ecosystem similar to traditional exchanges, with sports card shops attracting non-sports buyers. Platforms like Whatnot offer live-stream auctions, while online gacha game platforms merge physical TCGs with blockchain technology. However, the lack of regulatory oversight means buyers must conduct their own due diligence.

Adam Ireland emphasized the importance of research for potential investors, stating, "Like any investment, do your homework, know what's out there, know what the good deals are."