Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) closed the first quarter of 2026 down 23%, driving exhausted traders to pivot capital into a surprising alternative asset class: physical Pokémon cards.
Prominent crypto analyst Trader Mayne and pseudonymous collectibles expert CBS discussed on Wednesday how the Trading Card Game (TCG) market is absorbing liquidity as digital assets continue to trade sideways.
The “Bitcoin” Of Collectibles
Vintage Pokémon cards are exhibiting price resilience, with CBS highlighting the 1999 Base Set First Edition Charizard as the “Bitcoin of the TCG market.”
TCGs are attracting crypto capital thanks to their scarcity, liquidity, and decoupling from wider digital assets.
Unlike altcoins with constant token unlocks and inflationary supply, vintage cards have fixed, verifiable caps.
High-end graded cards operate with near-instant liquidity at trade shows and online marketplaces, allowing traders to flip $50,000 physical assets in minutes.
And while Bitcoin …
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