In the event of a global catastrophe, venture capitalist and lifelong collector Peter Levin believes Pokémon cards would emerge as the world's de facto currency. Levin, founder and managing director of Santa Monica-based Griffin Gaming Partners, stated that he is "absolutely convinced that if the world suffered an apocalypse tomorrow, the following day the global currency would be Pokémon cards."
Levin, who owns more than half a million trading cards and has been collecting since childhood, points to the Pokémon franchise's nearly 30-year history, originating in Japan in 1996 and expanding globally by 1999. The game's popularity transformed the video game phenomenon into a social collecting and gaming hobby.
The venture capitalist's prediction is bolstered by the significant value rare Pokémon cards have attained. He claims the cards have outperformed the S&P 500 by approximately 3,000 percent. A notable example is the PSA 10 Pikachu Illustrator card, which sold for $16.492 million at auction in February, setting a Guinness World Record for the most expensive trading card ever sold. This card was acquired by YouTuber-turned-wrestler Logan Paul in 2021 for $5.275 million.
Levin attributes the potential of Pokémon cards as currency to their extensive worldwide fanbase, the inherent scarcity of rare items, and an increasingly established resale market. He also notes that the Pokémon boom has paved the way for other trading card games, such as Yu-Gi-Oh!, Digimon, and One Piece, with One Piece reportedly growing faster than any card game in history. Hasbro's Magic: The Gathering is also a substantial business, approaching $2 billion annually.
The broader trading card industry has attracted major players like Disney and Hasbro, who are converting their intellectual properties into collectible cards and tabletop games. Levin suggests this trend is driven by adults who grew up with these franchises now having disposable income, coupled with social media's role in elevating collecting to a highly visible hobby.
While Levin's idea of Pokémon cards as currency in an apocalyptic scenario is speculative, other survival experts suggest more practical goods like food, fuel, and medical supplies, or historically used items such as cigarettes and alcohol. Gold remains a contender due to its scarcity and durability, provided markets still exist. Even fictional currencies like bottle caps from the Fallout series are mentioned. However, Levin emphasizes that Pokémon cards possess an established international fan base and global recognition, distinguishing them as a unique alternative asset.
