Pokémon card frenzy is making collectors and startups rich


A file photo shows Pokémon merchandise. Analogue Pokémon cards are an unlikely sensation for the Internet era. — Sarasota Herald-Tribune via AP

Mark Shininger is a like a lot of millennials who played with Pokémon cards during grade school. He traded the collectibles with his friends and competed with his brothers for the shiniest, most powerful characters – until eventually he tired of the hobby, stowed the cards neatly in boxes and grew up.

Then last year as the pandemic wore on, Shininger began hearing about vintage Pokémon card sales, sometimes reaching into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. So the 24-year-old mechanical engineer from Random Lake, Wisconsin, dug up his old collection of Pikachus and Charmanders. He logged the creatures into a spreadsheet and turned his childhood passion into a US$4,500 (RM18,816) side hustle.

Limited time offer:
Just RM5 per month.

Monthly Plan

RM13.90/month
RM5/month

Billed as RM5/month for the 1st 6 months then RM13.90 thereafters.

Annual Plan

RM12.33/month

Billed as RM148.00/year

1 month

Free Trial

For new subscribers only


Cancel anytime. No ads. Auto-renewal. Unlimited access to the web and app. Personalised features. Members rewards.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
   

Next In Tech News

Russia's Yandex reports Q1 revenue rise as market awaits spin-off news
Japan to levy big fines with new app rules
Inside Big Tech’s underground race to buy AI training data
Facebook scams demand stricter online rules, Japan lawmaker says
A Chinese firm is America’s favourite drone maker – except in Washington
Snap shares jump nearly 30% after Q1 beat
Alphabet, Microsoft shares jump as investors cheer AI investment
Rescue pup to meme star: The real-life ‘Dogecoin’ dog
Elon Musk is once again richer than Mark Zuckerberg as fortunes reverse
GPS bracelet places 18-year-old at the scene of 11 different break-ins, US cops say

Others Also Read