The world of trading cards, once just a nostalgic hobby for enthusiasts, now boasts staggering numbers akin to those seen in major stock markets. The magical month of June 2025 witnessed an earth-shattering $305 million being spent on sports and trading cards, according to Card Ladder, securing its place in the record books as the single biggest month for the industry. Like a sports hero relishing their place in history, the trading card sector took a triumphant leap past its previous high watermark of $303.22 million from March, showcasing the thriving and skyrocketing investment in this once-small niche.
This stunning surge in trading card sales was largely driven by eBay, the digital marketplace giant, where over $245 million changed hands in cardboard form. Imagine an intricate web of card collectors and investors, all feverishly seeking their prized additions, pushing eBay to the forefront of this financial crescendo. Not to be wholly outshined, Goldin contributed a significant $32 million, and Fanatics Collect rounded out the heavy-hitting trio with a respectable $27 million worth of deals sealed in collecting glory. Together, these transactions are not just numbers but stories of fandom, passion, and the inexorable rise of the collectible zeitgeist.
Card Ladder reported a staggering 5.2 million individual deals were done throughout June, marking this grand total as the second-highest transaction volume ever recorded on the platform. Each transaction, big or small, speaks to a community that continues to thrive and evolve, weaving a complex tapestry of buyers, sellers, and aficionados who push the boundaries of what card collecting can achieve.
Now, for those who dare tread in the realm of high-stakes, the top individual transaction was a showstopper: Goldin orchestrated the sale of a 2009-10 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Dual NBA Logoman card, uniquely featuring iconic basketball legends LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. This card alone fetched $1.16 million, the solitary seven-figure sale for the month, yet a true testament to the heights of investment in collectible sports cards.
Beyond the double-takes induced by that monumental sale, the industry collectively saw six cards surpass the $500,000 mark, 68 cards glide over the $100,000 milestone, and a further 239 join the exclusive $50,000 club. These figures affirm the growing strength and allure of the high-end market, as players, athletes, and fantastical creatures emerge from their flat paper prisons to bask in the spotlight of collectors’ admiration.
While many might think sports rules the roost, 2025 has proven to be the year where other realms hold immense sway too. Grading activity, a vital cog in the trading card machine, showed impressive growth as GemRate reported 12.4 million cards evaluated to date—boasting a hefty 25% increase over the previous year. Leading this charge is our beloved pocket monsters from the Pokémon universe. Astoundingly, 97 of the 100 most graded cards through PSA in 2025 are Pokémon, showing our timeless affection for these creatures knows no bounds.
As they gazed into the shimmering glow of historical achievement, the trading card industry didn’t just set a record in June; it marked a robust first half of 2025, leaving aficionados and investors alike filled with anticipation for what the rest of the year holds. With both sports and trading card games (TCGs) creating an unprecedented momentum, the only logical course appears onward and upward. The passion, competition, and ever-increasing stakes ensure that this is no ordinary hobby—it’s an epic saga of collectors and enthusiasts investing not only in cards but in the legacies and lore they represent.
