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Crypto bros, scalpers and Logan Paul: Inside the world of Pokémon where cards are sold for millions

Cnbc · · 1206 words · By Arjun Kharpal
Nostalgia vs. Profit Market Speculation Consumer behavior
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What to know about Nostalgia vs. Profit

When I was a kid in the late 90s, collecting Pokémon cards was a fun hobby.

Claims checked 12
Techniques found 2
Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
Left0%
Center86%
Right14%

7 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

When I was a kid in the late 90s, collecting Pokémon cards was a fun hobby.

Why it matters

I'd buy packs, hoping to get the rarest "shinies," or holographic cards.

Common ground

We'd trade with friends and even go to meet-ups to trade cards trying to "catch 'em all" —a catchphrase that defined the franchise that had gone from Nintendo Game Boy to an anime TV show.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Name Calling / Labeling: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/22/pokemon-cards-crypto-market-resale-logan-paul.ht…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 2 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning
Loaded Language 80% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.
warning
Name Calling / Labeling 70% confidence
Attaching a negative label to a person or group to reject them without evidence.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing name calling / labeling helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 12 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

verified Verified By Reference 4
help Insufficient Evidence 2
info Single Source 2
schedule Pending 2
check_circle Corroborated 1
verified Verified 1
help
Claim 1: “In February, influencer Logan Paul sold a rare Pikachu Illustrator card for more than $16 million, after buying it for just over $5 million in 2021.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was provided in the search results regarding Logan Paul's specific purchase or sale prices for the Pikachu Illustrator card.
info
Claim 2: “Since 2020, prices have risen by an incredible 1,350%, per the index.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence discusses high-value cards but does not mention a 1,350% increase since 2020 attributed to a Collectors index.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Free Pokemon Card price guide with ungraded and graded prices for thousands of Cards. Search for Pokemon Cards, browse by Sets, value, and popularity.
https://www.pricecharting.com/category/pokemon-cards
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Available NOW! Co-own the PSA 10 Pikachu Illustrator with me on Liquid MarketPlace https://trade.liquidmarketplace.io/signup?aff=IllustratorSUBSCRIBE FOR M...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4PPGuW7czQ
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The Gold Star Pokémon cards are one of the most valuable Pokémon sets ever produced, with Espeon and Umbreon two of the rarest cards in the set.
https://www.dicebreaker.com/games/pokemon-trading-card-game/…
verified
Claim 3: “the franchise that had gone from Nintendo Game Boy to an anime TV show”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
Wikipedia confirms Pokémon is a media franchise consisting of video games (starting on Game Boy) and animated series.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Pokémon[b][c] is a Japanese media franchise consisting of video games, animated series and films, a trading card game, and other related media.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pokémon
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Pokémon Blue saw a full release for the Game Boy at retail along with a special edition Pokémon Yellow. Yellow also sees Pikachu (the most famous Pokémon and brand figure for the franchise) on the cov…
https://www.livemint.com/Sundayapp/Z7zHxltyWtFNzcoXPZAbjI/A-…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The main Pokémon games all center around the strategic manipulation of creatures called Pokémon, from which the series takes its name. In the games, the player takes the role of a male or female human…
https://pokemon.fandom.com/wiki/Pokémon_(franchise)
schedule
Claim 4: “Some of the more popular Elite Trainer Boxes, such as the Scarlet & Violet 151 ETB Elite Trainer Box, are on eBay for more than £450.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
verified
Claim 5: “Everything changed with the 2016 release of "Pokémon Go," a smartphone game”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
Wikipedia and news sources confirm Pokémon Go was released as a smartphone game in 2016.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Pokémon Go (stylized as Pokémon GO) is a 2016 augmented reality (AR) mobile game developed and published by Niantic, in partnership with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company, for iOS and Android devices. …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pokémon_Go
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — But the opposite has happened with Pokémon Go, a free smartphone game that has soared to the top of the download charts: It has sent people into streets and parks, onto beaches and even out to sea in …
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/12/technology/pokemon-go-bri…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The newly released augmented-reality game uses your phone’s GPS and clock to make Pokémon “appear” around you.Pokémon Go becomes global craze as game overtakes Twitter for US users. 12 Jul 2016.
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/shortcuts/2016/jul/11…
check_circle
Claim 6: “The Pokémon Company continues to release new sets of cards every few months”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources (Pokellector and news articles) discuss the ongoing production and release of new card sets by The Pokémon Company.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Pokémon card scans, prices and collection management.
https://www.pokellector.com/sets
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Publisher: The Pokémon Company International. Many of us have a lot of Pokémon cards stashed away in the attic, but only a lucky few might find one of the very rarest Pokémon cards hiding in their col…
https://www.dicebreaker.com/games/pokemon-trading-card-game/…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Appleby says there has been an insane demand for cards, coupled with the Pokémon Company producing limited stock of new sets. That’s seen cards that usually go for $5 sell for upwards of $20.
https://www.theguardian.com/games/2025/mar/15/its-like-a-men…
verified
Claim 7: “The launch of Nintendo Switch in 2017 and new Pokémon games for the console”
VERIFIED
Wikipedia confirms the franchise is published by Nintendo and The Pokémon Company; general knowledge and search results confirm the Switch launch in 2017 and subsequent Pokémon titles for the platform.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Pokémon is a Japanese series of creature collector role-playing video games developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo and The Pokémon Company under the Pokémon franchise. It was created by Sat…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pokémon_(video_game_series)
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — When purchasing a digital game on Nintendo.com, your game will automatically download on the primary console associated with your Nintendo Account. For pre-orders, the game will be pre-loaded to your …
https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/games/pokemon-games/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Nintendo Switch allows you to play anywhere, anytime and with anyone.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkS2deuqg6g
verified
Claim 8: “Pokémon captured people's attention in 1996 when the first games were released for the Nintendo Game Boy.”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
Wikipedia and multiple web sources explicitly state the first Pokémon games (Red and Green) were released in 1996 for the Game Boy.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The first games, Pocket Monsters Red and Green, were released in 1996 in Japan for the Game Boy, later released outside of Japan as Pokémon Red Version and Blue Version.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pokémon_(video_game_series)
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The Nintendo Game Boy Release That Started It All. An image of a vintage game console, the Nintendo Game Boy handheld system.On February 27, 1996, the first Pokémon games were released in Japan for th…
https://tech.yahoo.com/gaming/articles/30-years-ago-nintendo…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — It was being developed for the Game Boy, and Nintendo consoles—well, consoles in general—tend to have a life span of about seven years. Game Boy had come out in 1989, so it roughly hit that when “Poké…
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/ninte…
help
Claim 9: “In the U.K., a Mega Evolution Ascended Heroes Elite Trainer Box sells on the official Pokémon Centre website for £54.99 ($74.50).”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was provided regarding the specific price or existence of a 'Mega Evolution Ascended Heroes Elite Trainer Box' on the UK Pokémon Centre website.
info
Claim 10: “From 2004 to 2020, Pokémon card prices rose 282%, according to an index compiled by Collectors, which owns card grading agency Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA).”
SINGLE SOURCE
While web results discuss Pokémon card prices and PSA, none of the provided evidence mentions the specific 'Collectors' index or the 282% increase figure.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Free Pokemon Card price guide with ungraded and graded prices for thousands of Cards. Search for Pokemon Cards, browse by Sets, value, and popularity.
https://www.pricecharting.com/category/pokemon-cards
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — According to auction house Heritage Auctions, the personalised aspect of the cards also mean that they rarely appear at auction, making them an even rarer sight in the world of Pokémon cards.
https://www.dicebreaker.com/games/pokemon-trading-card-game/…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Welcome to Pokemon Card Prices, your source for real-time Pokemon card pricing and market trends.Pokemon card prices change daily based on market demand, tournament results, and collector interest.
https://pokemon.cardprices.io/
verified
Claim 11: “The Pokémon Company, which owns the franchise”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
Wikipedia and official sources identify The Pokémon Company as the entity managing/owning the franchise.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The official source for Pokémon news and information on the Pokémon Trading Card Game, apps, video games, animation, and the Pokédex.
https://www.pokemon.com/us
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Pokémon[b][c] is a Japanese media franchise consisting of video games, animated series and films, a trading card game, and other related media. The franchise takes place in a shared universe in which …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pokémon
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Bulbapedia is an encyclopedia about Pokémon to which anyone can contribute. Since its launch in February 2005, it has grown to become one of the largest Pokémon resources on the internet.
https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Main_Page
schedule
Claim 12: “In 2023, Johannes Heck, a clinical pharmacologist, found his old Pokémon card collection from the late 90s at his grandmother's house. Between May 2024 and 2025, he listed some on eBay and published a paper about what the experience said about the trading card market.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.