The trading card market is booming as investors pivot to tangible collectibles, with eBay reporting triple-digit growth in Pokémon card sales and major entertainment firms entering the space.
eBay reported 142% jump in domestic trading-card sales in 2020, with Pokémon card sales surging 574%, indicating strong growth in collectibles marketplace.
Disney partnered with Topps to create collectible cards, expanding into the growing trading-card market.
Hasbro expanded into the trading-card business, capitalizing on the booming collectibles market.
As economic uncertainty drives investors toward alternative assets, the trading card market has surged to an estimated $50 billion annual valuation. Driven by nostalgia and strong secondary market performance, collectibles like Pokémon cards have outperformed traditional indices, prompting major firms like Disney and Hasbro to expand their presence in the space.
Investors are increasingly seeking tangible, alternative assets as a hedge against macroeconomic instability, stagnant wage growth, and inflationary pressures in traditional markets.