In a dazzling display of nostalgia wrapped in glossy card stock, the trading card industry catapulted itself into the history books with a record-breaking total of over $305 million spent in June 2025. This jaw-dropping figure, reported by Card Ladder, demolished previous records and further cemented the trading card’s place in both our hearts and our wallets.
Enthusiasts and collectors across the globe united, generating a substantial market swell and surpassing the prior peak of $303.22 million set just a few months earlier in March. What’s truly stunning, though, is that these figures aren’t even finalized yet. As late-breaking sales continue to dribble in throughout early July, the tally for June might still climb higher, teasingly extending the already impressive lead over past records.
eBay, the technological bazaar of both obscure and opulent treasures, led this surge, amassing over $245 million from trading card sales alone. It’s almost mind-boggling to think how many virtual trading hands that translates into. Meanwhile, Goldin, another bastion of collectible culture, contributed a respectable $32 million. Not to be outdone, Fanatics Collect threw its hat in the ring, adding an additional $27 million to the pot.
The buzz wasn’t just about overall spending but also about the sheer volume of transactions. In June, Card Ladder recorded a staggering 5.2 million individual transactions—a number that takes second place only to the platform’s historical records. To the uninitiated, that’s enough cardboard swapping to make anyone’s head spin.
Of course, what would a report on trading card sales be without delving into the top-of-the-pack deals? The standout transaction took place over at Goldin. A 2009-10 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Dual NBA Logoman card, featuring none other than the dynamic duo of LeBron James and Kobe Bryant, almost audibly slapped down its auction room gavel at an eye-watering $1.16 million. This card wasn’t just trading in cardboard or ink, but in prestige and sports history, as it was the lone seven-figure card of the month.
But the high-end market didn’t stop there. Six cards beat the half-a-million-dollar mark, 68 more eclipsed $100,000, and a further 239 managed to scoot past the $50,000 milestone. It seems the appetite for high-value cards is as insatiable as ever, reflecting a growing incline in collector interest towards premium offerings.
Adding another layer to this thriving market is the frenzied activity in card grading—an essential step for any serious collector. GemRate, a barometer for grading activity, reported a staggering 12.4 million cards graded so far in 2025. This number marks a beefy 25% increase over last year, a tilt that demonstrates the passion and dedication running rampant in the hobby.
Within these millions, a particular standout emerges: Pokémon. The world’s favorite multicolored monsters continue to captivate, with Pokémon cards dominating the PSA’s most graded list. An astounding 97 of the top 100 most graded cards destroyed any competitive illusions by being Pokémon cards. It’s yet another feather in the cap for Pikachu and friends, a testament to their enduring appeal.
This record-breaking month in June serves as a breathtaking bookend to an extraordinary first half of 2025 for trading cards. As trends ripple across traditional sports, trading card games (TCGs), and other genres, the trading card renaissance continues, shaping a market that blends old-school collecting charm with modern economic eagerness.
And who knows where the hobby will go next? With such a solid foundation laid in the opening months of 2025, the possibilities for the rest of the year feel almost endless. Whether driven by competitive card game aficionados or nostalgic collectors chasing the thrill of their childhood as prices rocket like Doduo’s Fly, the trading card industry shows no signs of cooling down. Long may it shuffle.