Venture capitalist Peter Levin has predicted that Pokémon cards would become the global currency in the event of an apocalypse, pointing to their significant returns and widespread appeal. Levin, founder and managing director of Griffin Gaming Partners, which invests in gaming and sports companies, bases his assertion on the cards' performance, which has historically outpaced the S&P 500.
Levin, an avid collector himself with a collection valued at over half a million dollars, stated in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that the democratization of the trading experience contributes to the industry's sustained popularity. He noted that the odds of pulling a rare and valuable card remain consistent, whether purchased from a trading card shop, Walmart, Costco, or Walgreens.
The trading card market has experienced a resurgence in recent years, partly fueled by amateur investors who emerged during the pandemic. This trend mirrors the rise of other alternative investments, such as the GameStop meme stock phenomenon.
Notable figures have participated in the market, including Logan Paul, who set a world record with his $5 million purchase of a rare Pikachu Illustrator card, later selling it for $16 million. The value of mint-condition cards has also been linked to criminal activity, with a notable theft of $50,000 worth of Pokémon cards in New Jersey.
Data from Card Ladder, cited by The Wall Street Journal last year, indicated that Pokémon cards have seen a roughly 3,821% return since 2004. This performance significantly surpasses the S&P 500's gain of 483% over the same period. Meta's stock, by comparison, rose 1,844% since its public debut in 2012.
Analysts estimate the trading card market to be worth as much as $50 billion annually. This market is projected to grow as more entertainment companies, such as Disney, introduce their intellectual properties into the trading card space. Disney has collaborated with Topps for Marvel and Star Wars-themed cards, while Hasbro has similar ventures for Marvel and Spider-Man, and Ravensburger has launched a trading card game called Disney Lorcana. Hasbro also plans new collectible card sets based on "Transformers" and "G.I. Joe" characters. A "Pokémon: Wild Card" movie is slated for release in 2027.
Other popular trading card franchises include "One Piece," based on a Japanese manga and anime series, and "Magic: The Gathering," a long-standing card game. Nintendo first introduced Pokémon in 1996 as a video game, and its characters have since expanded into television, films, and collectible trading cards. For many, these cards represent not only an investment but also a connection to their childhood memories.