The world of trading cards, where nostalgia meets the thrill of the chase, just had its moment in the spotlight—nay, its coronation—when, in June 2025, it shattered records by racking up over $305 million in sales. That mammoth number, reported by Card Ladder, made June the single biggest month in the glittering history of trading cards, which seems to glitter as brightly as the holographic Charizards and the pristine Mantle rookies it celebrates.
Move over March 2025, who once upon a time held the crown with $303.22 million, and make way for June’s ascendancy. The month that decorates wedding anniversaries and the start of summer.
Who do we have to thank for this seismic spike in card collecting? Why, eBay, our trusty bazaar of the internet age, which alone accounted for more than $245 million in card sales. Think of it as the colossus supporting the ever-expanding card-hungry world. Not far behind, Goldin stepped up with a respectable rain of $32 million, while Fanatics Collect cheerily chipped in with $27 million.
In total, June saw a staggering 5.2 million transactions riffling through Card Ladder’s digital index, an impressive runner-up to its all-time high. It seems the allure of acquiring one’s favorite player or character embossed on cardboard is as potent as ever.
An MVP-level highlight of the month came from the able hands of Goldin, again demonstrating why it’s seen as a premier arena for high-stakes card auctions. A 2009-10 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Dual NBA Logoman card, featuring the dual basketball deities LeBron James and Kobe Bryant, was the lone deal to leap over the million-dollar barrier, selling for a cool $1.16 million. A princely sum that confirms what we already suspect: the legacies of King James and the Black Mamba continue to inspire awe and well-fattened wallets.
Those million-dollar swings, though captivating, weren’t the only jaw-droppers shaking up the market. In total, six cards joyously cleared the $500,000 bar, 68 zoomed past the $100,000 mark, and a mighty 239 found new homes for over $50,000. Cards are no longer simply small rectangles of cardstock to be flipped or tucked into elastic bands. They are thriving as an alternative asset class, looking poised to rival fine art or rare coins.
This story of astonishing sales figures wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the swell of grading activities that continue to impact prices and collectibility. According to GemRate, this year alone has witnessed 12.4 million cards being graded—an increase of 25% over last year. Buzzwords echoing through the halls of these grading behemoths include the ever-luminous “Pokémon”.
With Pokémon relentlessly marching forward like Pikachu with its lightning strike, 97 of the top 100 most graded cards at PSA this year are Pokémon. If that doesn’t get the pulse racing for those besotted by the franchise’s catchy phrase, “Gotta Catch ‘Em All,” then nothing will.
The session in June pops the cork on what’s been a frothy first half of 2025 for the trading card domain. As sports, trading card games (TCGs), and beyond continue their momentum-laden trajectory, the scope of interest grows wider. Each shimmering card tells stories of vintage triumphs, gaming legends, or fantastical creatures.
At this meteoric rate, card collecting is not simply a hobby. It’s social currency, emotional connection, an investment opportunity, and sometimes a trip down memory lane. While traditional investments may face the ups and downs dictated by macroeconomic trends, trading cards lend a unique allure—combining aesthetic pleasure, significant appreciation potential, and that ineffable nostalgia factor.
And so, with collectors and investors eyeing that next big auction or the humble flea market shuffle’s hidden gem, July teeters on its tiptoes knowing it might be the next chapter in this electrifying saga. Rest assured, the chronicles of cardboard titans will knit yet more complex stories and, most assuredly, higher numbers. Who knew the sports and characters that defined our childhood—or our heroes—could reach such financial heights while keeping the youthful spark alive?
