As 2025 draws to a close, cllct takes a look back at a record-setting year in the hobby.
We've assembled a panel of the top experts in the industry to recap some of the biggest trends of the past 12 months — both the good and the troubling.
Plus, we'll look into our crystal ball and try to forecast what lies ahead in 2026.
We start our two-week series with a look at the top trends over the last 12 months.
RELATED STORIES:
- The year in collectibles: Hottest cards and athletes
- The year in collectibles: What would you change about the hobby?
- The year in collectibles: Did the hobby get better in 2025?
- The year in collectibles: Biggest issues facing the hobby?
(Answers have been lightly edited for brevity and clarity. Questions were distributed before Collectors' acquisition of Beckett on Dec. 15.)
What was the most significant or surprising trend you noticed in 2025?
Rob Bigler, CEO, TCGplayer:
I loved seeing the immediate success of the Riftbound launch. It underscores how enduring the TCG format is with new games and across audiences.
Andy Broome, vice president, CGC Cards:
The velocity and digitization of the hobby. With platforms like Whatnot, the speed at which cards are brought to market and sold is getting faster. All the more reason for the importance of maintaining quick turnaround times in grading. I think this trend will continue through 2026.
Brian Dwyer, president, REA:
I’ve really enjoyed watching game-used memorabilia continue to get more and more attention year over year. This is an area where we’re continuing to see historic items come to market and regularly set new records.
Developments such as photo-matching are allowing us to pinpoint these items, tell more comprehensive stories and drive greater interest in these historic pieces of sports history. I think this is a trend that will continue to blossom in the years ahead.
Elizabeth Gruene, GM of pop culture, PSA
We launched our comic and magazine grading business this year, and I was amazed to see the demand for magazines. This is definitely a newer and more emerging collectible type, but already we are seeing almost a 50/50 split between comic and magazine submissions to PSA. I am excited to see the magazine collecting space continue to grow.
David Hunt, president, Hunt Auctions:
The continued general resiliency of this market. Have there been some areas that have taken a downturn? Yes. But that occurs in any market for a number of reasons.
This hobby seems to be particularly nimble to constantly adjust when one area of the market softens by shifting focus to other areas of strength. Very likely, its attachment to sports is an enormous reason for this resiliency, much as it is for the athletes themselves.
Adam Ireland, VP and general manager of global collectibles, eBay:
You can't look back at 2025 and not call out the Labubu phenomenon. What’s surprising is that Labubus have actually been around for about 10 years, but this was the year they went mainstream, thanks to celebrity styling and the popularity of blind-box experiences — and we saw this translate on eBay.
More than 40,000 people tuned into an “all Labubu” eBay Live stream earlier this year, and searches for Labubus jumped 2,600%, comparing January to October 2025, versus the same time last year.
Chris Ivy, director of sports auctions, Heritage Auctions:
While I do not think it was all that surprising, over the course of the year, we saw an expansion of record prices paid for limited production cards from the 1990s onward.
For the last few years, so much attention has been paid to the top tier of the market, in terms of both brand names and products, featuring the likes of Michael Jordan, Tom Brady and LeBron James. In 2025, there appeared to be increased interest for limited cards for names like Allen Iverson, Ken Griffey, Jr., and Barry Sanders. What seemed to be driving the very top of the market has now impacted a wider variety of cards and names from the same era, at various price points.
David Leiner, president of trading cards, Topps
There have been two surprising trends for me. First, Shohei Ohtani’s continued meteoric rise and Ohtani raising the bar in the hobby. I wasn’t sure his star — and prices — could continue to skyrocket after his 50/50 accomplishment, his MVP and World Series-winning 2024 season, but he put up another MVP season, won another World Series title and pitched phenomenally.
The second surprise trend: GOAT cards, and these giant cards continuing to sell for giant prices. We saw a little pullback in higher-end cards after 2021, but now the market is more educated and has developed a discerning taste in the high end, whether it be considered an asset, investment, or a piece of artwork. It’s amazing to see that side continue to accelerate.
Paul Lesko, The Hobby Lawyer:
In 2025, we saw the filing of another antitrust case in the hobby (Wild Card v. Panini), which goes along with the now long-running Panini v. Fanatics antitrust lawsuit. For 2026, with the recent PSA purchase of Beckett, and Rep. Pat Ryan (D-NY) asking for the FTC to look into the same, it would not shock me to see additional antitrust lawsuits, this time focusing on PSA.
Jason Masherah, president of Upper Deck:
A significant trend I witnessed and we participated in was the heavy crossover between sports and pop-culture licenses — creating new and exciting experiences for fans. During the Summer of Superman, we introduced trading cards that brought together NHL draftees and characters from the DC Universe, and even wrapped a NASCAR vehicle in Upper Deck and Superman branding.
We also brought Batman into the world of Precious Metal Gems, chase cards that earned their popularity with athletes like Michael Jordan.
What's even more encouraging about this trend is how accessible it is for fans and collectors to enjoy at every level. We need more of this in the hobby to ensure we keep current collectors engaged, while also connecting with new ones.
Mike, Junk Wax Hero on YouTube:
Probably the price spikes of iconic cards, regardless of how many were printed. We saw some cards, like the Ken Griffey Jr. 1989 Upper Deck rookie in a PSA 10, more than double in value in a matter of a few months.
Matt Nelson, president, CGC Comics:
Many new collections surfaced this year, particularly Golden Age. This was very surprising because of how old they are, and the fact new discoveries are always trending downward as time marches on.
This year, a copy of Detective Comics No. 27 (first appearance of Batman) was discovered in a California home and sold for $1 million. Even more incredible, a high-grade copy of Superman No. 1 was found in an attic (also in California) that became the highest graded copy CGC has ever seen, and went on to sell for $9.12 million.
Evan Parker, founder, Mantel:
The adoption of Dutch auctions is a trend I didn't see coming, and I'm not sure it's great for the collector. In general, it will lead to collectors paying more for wax than they would have with a set MSRP, and it favors those with means and flippers/breakers.
I thought Topps was onto something with the EQL lottery system for new product, which gave every collector a shot at getting a box. I hope they continue to offer boxes via lottery and regular online sales and only use the Dutch auction sparingly, because it's hard for me to see how it benefits the regular consumer at all.
Matt Quinn, vice president, CGC Cards:
The absolute dominance of Pokémon TCG in the grading space. TCG has overtaken all sports cards combined for the most graded cards in the collectible card space.
Claire Shelton, head of video games, PSA
In 2025, we saw a significant increase in case pack submissions from dealers and individual submitters alike. Whether in-pursuit of a pristine 10 grade, securing a copy of the latest release, or the hype cycle of a new console (Nintendo Switch 2).
Max Spiegel, president, Certified Collectibles Group:
The growth of repacks in the card hobby (and now other collectible categories) is probably the most significant trend in collectibles right now. Repacks have extended the thrill of opening fresh wax to already-graded items, resulting in a meaningful expansion of the secondary market.
I think repacks are overall a positive development but, like anything else, you need to do your diligence. In collectibles especially, it’s important to work with companies that have a proven track record and can be trusted to do the right thing.
Kenneth Thrower, director of grading, CGC Video Games and Home Video:
In video games, we have seen a rise in CIB (Complete in Box) and cart-only grading as sealed items rise in value and become harder to find.
Nat Turner, CEO, Collectors
I would have to say how globally popular Pokémon continues to be and the new levels achieved of demand. Pokémon has been popular for years, of course, but in 2025, it really went to a whole new level.
Secondary prices of popular Pokémon cards are at all-time highs, even compared to COVID-era peaks, and according to Card Ladder the overall Pokemon index is up 116% in 2025. That exceeds every major U.S. sports card category by over 2x, with the closest overall sport being soccer at 91% (which, of course, is not a major U.S. sport).
It’s also evident with Pokémon’s production, with the company barely able to keep up with consumer demand and needing to print more cards to keep prices accessible.
Brahm Wachter, head of modern collectibles, Sotheby’s:
The power of "the moment" continues to drive results in this market. When I think about what clients really want, whether it be a debut patch card or a debut jersey, the moment is the thing that really drives value. That concept seems to get bigger and bigger every year.