Over the course of 2020 and into this year, Pokémon trading cards have clocked astronomical sales — and their price points keep climbing. In July 2020, for instance, a Pikachu Illustrator card fetched the most expensive price tag to date at $250,000 USD, only to be blown out of the water a few months later when a rare Blastoise presentation card sold for $468,000 USD.
Demand and prices for the Pokémon trading cards have entered — and according to some surpassed — the realm of even the most coveted watches, sneakers and classic cars. But how did it happen? And what does it mean for avid and casual collectors alike? To get the rundown on this phenomenon, HYPEBEAST spoke to several experts.
