In what can only be described as a monumental milestone for the cardboard-centric world known as the trading card industry, June 2025 blew past all expectations, setting a new bar with an astronomical $305 million spent. Never before have pieces of meticulously printed cardboard inspired such paradoxical thrills and sweaty palms as collectors rage on in this high-stakes hobby. It seems the market has never been hotter—and for anyone who thought the trading card bubble had burst long ago, think again. June’s historic numbers are a testament to the enduring, and perhaps expanding, appeal of this age-old pastime.
The staggering $305.7 million figure drove right past the previous pinnacle set in March, which clocked in at a mere $303.22 million. You might say that June laughed heartily in March’s face, flaunting this new record as if to declare, “I see your milestone and raise you an even bigger one!” And with late data gradually seeping in, that figure could potentially nudge its way even higher.
How was this achievement possible, you might ask? Well, two words: online marketplaces. eBay was the undeniable trade Kingpin, commanding an awe-inspiring $245 million of the marketplace madness. One could say eBay is to trading cards what the Great Wall is to China—inescapably vast and overtly significant. As if that wasn’t enough for the online shopping titan, Goldin Auctions and Fanatics Collect made sure they would not be left in the dust, pulling in $32 million and $27 million respectively. Together, these platforms drove the trading frenzy, logging a record 5.2 million individual buy-sell-hope-for-the-best acts in June—truly splendid for a pastime built on passion, nostalgia, and a dash of speculation.
The crown jewel of this electrifying month shone luminously from the Goldin auction block: a 2009-10 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Dual NBA Logoman card featuring the mythic pairing of LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. The card fetched a staggering $1.16 million. Just one card out of the many, but the only one basking in the glorious glow of seven figures—no small feat, even in today’s sizzling marketplace. But that wasn’t the end: a sextet of other cards sold north of the half-million mark, a cadre of 68 cleared the $100,000 threshold with aplomb, and 239 pieces sent the counter into emphatic five-figure spins. High-end market enthusiasts have much to toast in this realm of mythic transactions.
Amidst this whirlwind of sales activity, the grading segment also asserted its prominence with gusto. GemRate metrics showed a robust 12.4 million cards were handled and graded in 2025 to date, marking a substantial 25% climb over last year’s totals. It’s not just traditional sports cards claiming the limelight. Trading Card Games (TCGs) and non-sport specimens—think Pokémon—show they mean business in this bustling domain. Pokémon cards, those charming curios that double as legendary quest pieces, dominated this year, comprising 97 out of the top 100 most graded cards at PSA. Pikachu and friends continue to electrify collectors and beckon them to “catch ’em all,” and clearly, people intend to do just that.
With the record-crushing month of June, the trading card hobby finds itself closing out the first chapter of 2025 on an unprecedented high note. Backed by consistent momentum woven throughout both sports cards and TCG phenomena, the future might well hold more landmark achievements, proving that the art (and commerce) of trading cards is far from fading quietly into the annals of history. Instead, its narrative charges forward, vibrant and undeniable, paper-thin yet mighty in the world of collectors. As we step further into the year, it’s reasonable to wonder—will this proving ground of nostalgia and novelty continue to captivate global audiences and wallets? One can only speculate as the cards are dealt in this captivating game of collecting.
