• Renewed interest in Pokémon cards drove a 12,000% spike in trading card sales on eBay Australia late last year, the online marketplace says.
• In a new report, eBay Australia said it also tallied a 301% increase in the sale of basketball trading cards in October.
• The figures come after a mix of nostalgia, scarcity, and pandemic-fueled spending transformed collectibles into a growing class of investment asset.
• Visit Business Insider Australia’s homepage for more stories.

Pokémon, the legendary anime franchise and trading card game, convinced a generation of Australian kids to “catch ’em all.”

But a new eBay Australia report shows grown-up Pokémon players chose to buy ’em all in late 2020, driving a 12,000% spike in the sale of trading card memorabilia on the digital marketplace.

In its new “Lockdown: One Year On” report, eBay Australia states interest in Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering cards exploded in October and November 2020 compared to the same period in 2019.

The renewed fascination coincided with the transition of Pokémon cards, and other collectible memorabilia, from long-lost hobby items to genuine investment pieces.

Propelled by a heady mix of nostalgia, scarcity, and a dash of pandemic-induced spending, the value of individual Pokémon cards skyrocketed over the year.

A first-edition Machamp card which Insider presented for inspection in 2018 was valued at roughly $7; at time of writing, 36 eBay Australia bidders have driven the value of a similar card up to $70 — while one optimistic seller has their example listed for $12,000.

More dizzying figures surround Charizard, one of the most recognisable monsters in the Pokémon canon.

A scratched, first-edition Charizard which Insider presented for valuation was valued at $18, with an expert claiming a mint condition example could fetch nearly $100.

On eBay, a professionally-graded, top of the line example is currently on offer for $350,000.

Such a price for a single card is no longer unthinkable; in October, US rapper Logic paid more than $300,000 for a similar Charizard card through Iconic Auctions.

Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering cards weren’t the only collectibles to command a premium, either.

eBay Australia reported a 301% increase in the sale of basketball cards in October, with the sale of collectible card games in general rising 7,699% in December.

Not bad for what is, ostensibly, paper offcuts covered in metallic foil.

So ascendant is the collectibles market that it has, improbably, left the physical realm.

Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) provide a way for creators to ‘mint’ digital trading cards on the blockchain, with the NBA Top Shots market turning over tens of millions of dollars each day.

eBay is yet to dabble in the NFT market. Should it do so, recent market activity suggests Australian buyers would catch them all, too.

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