Investor Who's Convinced That Pokémon Cards Will Be Currency After an Apocalypse
20 days ago
- Peter Levin, co-founder of Griffin Gaming Partners, owns over 500,000 trading cards and is an avid collector since childhood.
- The trading card market has grown significantly, with Pokémon cards outperforming the S&P 500 by 3,000% and the market valued at $50 billion annually.
- Grading services like PSA, CGC, and TAG use AI to standardize card values, creating a secondary market and transforming cards into alternative assets.
- Major entertainment companies (Disney, Warner Bros., Hasbro) actively partner with card brands to engage fans, with Disney leading in leveraging IP for trading cards.
- Social media influencers and celebrities (e.g., Logan Paul, Steve Aoki) have amplified the hobby, driving interest through platforms like TikTok and live auctions.
- Trading cards remain accessible and affordable, with packs available at retail stores, ensuring broad participation regardless of income.
- Crossovers between gaming and trading cards (e.g., Magic: The Gathering with Final Fantasy, One Piece) have fueled global expansion, especially in Asia.
- The industry recovered from a 1990s bubble by learning from overproduction mistakes, now focusing on sustainable growth and fan-driven demand.