by MARSHALL BONE
Trading cards have become an increasingly hot investment since the hobby exploded in 2020. What was once seen as a predominantly nostalgic hobby or a pastime for younger consumers is now full of speculative collectors and their Excel sheets. What’s driving all this interest, and why is now the best time to get into trading cards?
Factors Driving Trading Card Prices
Sports trading cards alone are expected to reach a market valuation of $27,500 million by 2033 at a CAGR of 7.83 percent. Factor in other TCGs like Yu-Gi-Oh! and Pokémon, and you’re looking at consistent growth over the next decade. Let’s take a look at the driving factors behind this trend.
Investment Potential
Collectors are investing more than ever in trading cards because of their investment potential. Whether you’re looking at new 2024 Topps baseball cards or a vintage Mickey Mantle piece, iconic collectibles are consistently selling for more year after year. Rare and sentimental cards, in particular, are almost always worthwhile investments. For example, a Babe Ruth 1914 Baltimore News card sold for $7.2 million in 2023.
This trend isn’t just limited to vintage cards, either. Relatively newer players who have already carved out a legacy for themselves command high card prices, too. Consider Stephen Curry’s 2009 National Treasures patch card, valued at $5.9 million.
Rare and iconic trading cards clearly appreciate over time, making them an excellent alternative to traditional investments like stocks. You don’t need to hunt down the classics to make a profit anymore.
Ease of Trading
Market booms happen when opportunity meets accessibility. The opportunity is clearly there, with buyers ready to invest in multi-million dollar cards, but what about the accessibility?
- Online Marketplaces: The rise of popular trading card marketplaces has made it significantly easier to invest in them, bringing them out of TCG stores and placing them directly in the hands of eager collectors everywhere. Platforms like eBay, PWCC Marketplace, and specialized card store sites are some popular examples.
It’s worth pointing out that these marketplaces have also cleared up much of the confusion around trading card valuation. Earlier, there was no easily accessible way for newcomers to figure out the fair value of a trading card. Now, all it takes is a few clicks.
- Dedicated Store Sites: Even traditional trading card stores have been quick to capitalize on digital trends, putting their raw and singles-graded collections online for prospective buyers. If you can’t find a rare card on an online marketplace, you’ll certainly find it on a dedicated card store website.
Community Engagement
The boom in trading card investment isn’t purely driven by financial reasons. There’s a very real community element here that plays a massive role in bringing new collectors to the table. For example, many stores now host online TCG tournaments, allowing larger audiences to participate and win rare cards. Live box breaks are another example of community-driven collecting.
People don’t just want to collect the best cards; they also want to talk about it with other like-minded fans. That’s where platforms like Reddit come in. Reddit communities like r/PokemonTCG have seen monumental growth, from 35k in January 2020 to 560k as of February 2025.
Economic Factors
While newer trading card releases increasingly target the Gen Z/Gen X audience, older cards (pre-2010) tend to appeal more to millennials. The most affluent millennials have seen consistent income growth since 2021, putting them in a better financial spot than previous generations.
This means that the core target audience of the most valuable trading cards can now afford to spend more on them. As disposable income increases, you’ll naturally see card prices grow to reflect that trend. Many buyers also see these cards as a way to hedge their bets through alternative investments.
Digital Trends
It’s safe to assume that trading card popularity will continue to trend upward. However, we will also see a slow shift to digital TCGs. Pokémon already pulled this off with a successful launch of their digital TCG in 2024, and we might see other giants like Magic: The Gathering expand their digital offerings.
Collecting For The Future
Cutthroat demand and an increasingly accessible market are the two biggest reasons driving the boom in trading card investing. Trading cards are the perfect choice for collectors seeking to diversify their portfolio with something fun and a little more volatile.
Marshall Bone is a writer, copy strategist and all-around stylish guy who has been following trends in GQ for more than two decades. Voted best-dressed both his junior and senior year, Bone has continued this legacy and can be found covering various topics from men’s fashion to self care and grooming. He enjoys reading and is based in the greater Los Angeles area.
