In a turn of events that would make any avid collector’s heart skip a beat, the trading card industry hit an all-time high in June 2025, boasting an extraordinary $305 million in sales. This surge has left the world of trading cards echoing with the applause of cardboard enthusiasts and the scribble of auctioneers’ gavels, as the industry welcomes an unprecedented milestone that surpasses the previously set record of $303.22 million in March.
The recent figure, tallied by Card Ladder, has left industry watchers and collectors alike buzzing with excitement, and it’s no slight financial feat. This dazzling sum, a mighty $305.7 million to be precise, might yet burgeon as the trailing data continues to trickle in until early July. So much for a leisurely summer—June has roared to life as a historic month for trading card enthusiasts.
The massive transaction wave was buoyed significantly by sales on eBay, which commanded a lion’s share of the action with an eye-popping $245 million in card sales. Meanwhile, over at Goldin, where the air hangs thick with high-stakes tension, another $32 million worth of cards found new homes. Fanatics Collect, not one to be left behind, pitched in with a further $27 million in sales for the month.
While each platform played its part in reaching this new pinnacle, several standout transactions stole the spotlight. Topping the month’s fabled sales was a stunning 2009-10 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Dual NBA Logoman card, headlined by basketball legends LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. This rare gem commanded an awe-inducing $1.16 million at Goldin, comfortably securing its status as the event’s sole seven-figure card.
The trading card scene’s strong exhale doesn’t stop there. June witnessed an array of significant sales, with six cards crossing the half-million-dollar mark, while a further 68 eclipsed the $100,000 threshold, and 239 others surpassed $50,000. Such figures underscore the burgeoning force and resilience of the high-end market.
Not confined to just financial prowess, this bounteous month showcased a flourishing of grading activity. According to data beacons at GemRate, a remarkable 12.4 million cards have been graded in 2025—a whopping 25% increase compared to the previous year. Amongst these, a staggering 7.2 million consisted of Trading Card Games (TCGs) and non-sports cards, with an unmistakable roar of approval for Pokémon. The beloved monster-capturing franchise continued to assert dominance, with a stunning 97 of the top 100 most graded cards at PSA featuring these pocket-sized creatures.
This June glow-up of trading cards not only highlights a red-letter month but also crowns an impressive first half of 2025. The uptick in activity and record-setting exploits have provided a buoyant yet steady momentum for the trading card industry, expanding robustly across sports, TCGs, and beyond. As collectors worldwide revel in this vibrant, unprecedented realm of exchange, the hobby grows ever closer to transcending its humble roots and cementing itself as a cultural—and fiscal—phenomenon.
From the nostalgic trades done in school hallways to high-stakes auctions that summon whispers of bidders’ intent, the hobby stands testament to an ever-evolving passion that rolls forward on wheels greased by nostalgia, excitement, and the promise of discovering that one card that makes history—or one’s day.
