In the vibrant realm of collectible cards, the year 2025 marks a significant shift, as Pokémon cards catapult themselves to the forefront, overtaking sports cards by a mile. According to the latest data from GemRate, Pokémon isn’t just making waves—it’s riding a tsunami. Once a humble trading card game, Pokémon now commands 97 out of the top 100 spots for the most-graded cards at PSA, one of the biggest third-party grading companies in the business. This marks a jaw-dropping pivot, as TCG (Trading Card Games) and other non-sport cards comprise a staggering 59% of all submissions to the four major grading authenticators for the first half of the year.
For Pokémon enthusiasts, these numbers translate into 7.2 million TCG and non-sports cards being graded between January and June. This figure represents a 70% increase year-over-year, a clear indicator that Pokémon isn’t just catching new fans; it’s capturing the hearts of a diverse collector base. Meanwhile, sports card submissions, historically the preferred collectible, lagged far behind with 5.1 million submissions—a 9% decline from the previous year.
Among the crowd favorite cards for 2025, the Japanese Iono’s Wattrel Battle Partners Promo No. 232 stands at the pinnacle, with over 45,600 copies submitted for grading. Yet Pikachu, the beloved yellow mascot, continues to be the charm of the franchise. In fact, Pikachu-related cards involved over 345,000 submissions this year alone, a clear testament to its enduring appeal.
Of particular note is the “Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat,” born from a creative collaboration with the Van Gogh Museum. This particular card has become somewhat iconic, with nearly 84,000 graded copies in circulation, though PSA 10 examples are fetching more than $900 despite the volume. This phenomenon speaks volumes about the mixture of scarcity, cultural footprint, and nostalgia that fuels the Pokémon card frenzy.
Meanwhile, sports cards struggled to make a significant impact, finding representation with just three cards in PSA’s top 100. The 2024 Panini Prizm Jayden Daniels rookie card and a similar edition from Donruss collected between 8,800 and 10,500 submissions, a far cry from the numbers Pokémon is pulling. These statistics weave a narrative of not just popularity but the shifting sands of collector trends.
In June alone, TCG and non-sport cards were 63% of total submissions across all grading companies, with PSA flexing its muscles by grading a whopping 911,000 cards in this category. Such figures left the combined sports card income of 743,000 in the dust, clearly delineating where collector interest lies.
CGC Cards, traditionally a staple in the card grading world, has seized the opportunity provided by Pokémon’s popularity. With 2.18 million cards graded so far in 2025, the company is on track to eclipse its numbers from 2024 entirely. Notably, about 1.8 million of these graded cards were TCG or non-sport, clearly illustrating the swing in consumer interest.
As CGC rides the Pokémon wave, Beckett, another titan in the grading space, appears to be on a downward trajectory. Beckett has handled only 366,000 cards in 2025, well below its rivals, of which 214,000 are TCG or Pokémon-related. This minor showing has seen Beckett slip to fourth place among its peers, highlighting a competitive space where adaptation is key.
PSA’s current boom can partly be credited to its strategic alignment with GameStop. Since this collaboration took off last October, over 1 million grading submissions have poured in, further propelling the Pokémon juggernaut.
On the retail front, Pokémon’s dominance is palpable. Shelves are frequently emptied as new releases hit the market, with retailers resorting to limits per customer to manage the overflowing demand. Pokémon’s allure shows no signs of waning, as fans of all ages continue to chase these cards with eagerness reminiscent of Ash Ketchum seeking to “catch ’em all.”
The collectibility of Pokémon cards and their newfound leading status in the grading space underline a broader cultural shift. What started as a niche hobby has burgeoned into a mainstream obsession, marrying nostalgia with modern-day hype, making the Pokémon trading card game a cultural and economic phenomenon of 2025. Whether you’re a die-hard Pokémon master or a newcomer lured in by the frenzy, the sheer scope and mania of the Pokémon card world will undoubtedly continue to enchant and captivate, resonating with an ever-growing audience worldwide.
