Why This ISN'T 2021: Our Honest Take on the Card Market Right Now

Coinbase is now selling Pokémon packs backed by real cards, which you can vault or ship to your door. Ryan Alford, Brian Ludden and Bella break down what it means when one of the biggest companies in crypto moves into the hobby. Brian shares that a buyer hired for one of these platforms told him he needed to buy $5.5 million in Pokémon cards in a single month.

With more big players entering, the crew takes on the question everyone is asking: is the card market a bubble? Ryan and Brian explain why today's market has very little in common with the 2021 spike, and why steady demand, multiple generations collecting together and real supply limits point to a hobby that's here to stay. They also cover Topps moving its EQL drops to a random draw to fight bots, and why Pokémon is flying off shelves from Collector Station all the way to the UK.

Plus: the vintage football cards quietly climbing right now, including Jim Brown, Jerry Rice and Walter Payton rookies; why Tom Brady's market is cooling; buy, hold or wait calls on Drake Maye, J.J. McCarthy and Cam Ward; a second look at 2026 Bowman Football value boxes; and a 2026 Allen & Ginter release-day pack battle.

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*Topics Covered*

• Coinbase launches Pokémon packs backed by real cards
• A $5.5M-a-month Pokémon buying spree
• Why gambling and prediction sites are entering the hobby
• Is the card market a bubble?
• Why today isn't 2021
• Topps EQL moves to a random draw
• Pokémon selling out in the U.S. and the UK
• Media coverage vs. performance in card values
• White Sox playoff run and card bumps
• Jim Brown 1958 Topps rookie: high grades up 83%
• Jerry Rice 1986 Topps rookie: PSA 8 up 37%, PSA 9 up 41%
• Walter Payton 1976 Topps rookie trending up
• Tom Brady's market cooling 25 to 35%
• Drake Maye: buy, hold or wait?
• J.J. McCarthy's cards up 500%
• Cam Ward down 13%: why we're holding
• 2026 Bowman Football value boxes revisited
• Malik Nabers /5 pulled from a value box
• 2026 Allen & Ginter pack battle

*🔗 Links Mentioned in This Episode*

*Collector Nation*
Website: thecollectornation.com
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*Collector Station*
Website: thecollectorstation.com
Instagram: instagram.com/thecollectorstation

*Ryan Alford*
Website: ryanalford.com
Instagram: instagram.com/ryanalford

*Brian Ludden / Ludex*
Website: ludex.com
App: ludex.com/download
Instagram: instagram.com/ludexapp

🎁 *Insider tip:* Sign up for the free Collector Nation app through any release page on our site and you're entered to win a free sports hobby box or Pokémon Elite Trainer Box. Plus, use our new checklist search: type in any card number to see every parallel and variation in the set.

⭐ Is the card market a bubble, or is this just the new normal? Drop your take in the comments (we reply to every one), .