Pokémon cards could become a global currency if an apocalypse happened, according to a prominent gaming investor who claims the collectables have dramatically outperformed traditional shares.

Griffin Gaming Partners founder and managing director Peter Levin made the prediction while discussing the rapid growth of the trading-card market and his personal collection of more than 500,000 cards.

“I’m absolutely convinced that if the world suffered an apocalypse tomorrow, the following day the global currency would be Pokémon cards,” Levin told The Hollywood Reporter.

While deliberately provocative, his prediction reflects the extraordinary appreciation of some cards and the global demand surrounding the Pokémon franchise.

Card Ladder data previously cited by The Wall Street Journal showed Pokémon cards producing a return of approximately 3,821% between 2004 and 2025. The S&P 500 gained 483% over the same period, while Meta shares rose 1,844% following the company’s 2012 public listing.

Trading Cards Growth, Pokémon Apocalypse: A Chat With Peter Levin

High-profile sales have further driven interest. YouTuber and professional wrestler Logan Paul purchased a rare Pikachu Illustrator card for US$5.3 million before selling it for a record US$16.5 million earlier this year.

The growing value of rare cards has also attracted criminals, with retailers increasingly targeted in thefts and smash-and-grab robberies.

Levin believes the accessibility of card packs is central to the industry’s longevity because buyers theoretically have the same chance of finding a rare card, regardless of their wealth.

Professional grading services have meanwhile helped turn collectables into tradeable assets by standardising their condition and protecting authenticated cards inside sealed cases.

Some providers are now using AI to reduce subjectivity during grading.

Analysts estimate the global trading-card market could be worth more than US$50 billion annually.

Entertainment companies are attempting to capture more of that demand. Disney has licensed its characters from Disney, Marvel and Star Wars for products made by Topps, Hasbro and Ravensburger, while Hasbro is expanding card ranges based on Transformers and G.I. Joe.

Pokémon is also extending the franchise with Pokémon: Wild Card, a film focused on a competitive trading-card player scheduled for 2027.

However, trading cards remain unregulated collectables rather than conventional financial products. Their values can be volatile and depend heavily on rarity, condition, authentication and shifting consumer demand.