Aggregated weekly revenue across tokenized Pokémon TCG marketplaces reached record highs of $7.4 million in the first week of May, representing a 337% year-over-year increase. According to reports from The Block, this surge reflects the strongest cultural backdrop Pokémon has experienced in its history, with the franchise's 30th anniversary in 2026 driving significant market interest. The Courtyard platform led the record week with a 46% share of total revenue, followed by Collector Crypt at 27% and Phygitals at 26%.
Google Trends data shows searches for 'Pokémon cards' near all-time highs worldwide, with 'Japanese Pokémon card' queries also reaching record levels. As reported by The Block, a 'Pokémon Day' presentation in February kicked off a year of worldwide 30th-anniversary releases, to be capped off by an all-foil '30th Celebration' set scheduled for a global same-day launch in September. The macro demand backdrop for the hobby is described as being as strong as it has been in the modern era, with the record on-chain marketplace revenue serving as a direct reflection of this momentum.
According to The Block, tokenized marketplaces tend to lag the physical reality of the phenomenon rather than tracking it tick-for-tick. The report suggests it is plausible that the upcoming 30th-anniversary event will culminate in all-time high demand for Pokémon cards, attracting new collectors and widespread media attention. OpenSea CMO Adam Hollander told The Block earlier this month that tokenized Pokémon cards will help drive the next NFT wave, making it worth watching whether on-chain TCG marketplace revenue re-accelerates ahead of the upcoming '30-year celebration' sets.
