Collectible and trading card games.
Summaries are AI-generated
Pokémon and McDonald's announced a 30th-anniversary collaboration, with the US event running from Nov 5 to Dec 9, offering 15 cards. Concerns about scalping and food waste have been raised.
Tash, founded by UC Berkeley students, has raised a pre-seed round and joined Y Combinator Summer 2026. The platform builds investment-grade card portfolios and indexes, targeting accredited investors initially with plans to serve retail investors later.
A federal judge dismissed a 13-count antitrust class action on Sept. 29, ruling plaintiffs failed to prove personal harm. Fanatics' acquisitions and exclusive deals were not substantively reviewed in this ruling.
China Post Securities report highlights trading cards' dual value. China's collection card market hit 32.1 billion yuan in 2024, up 152.8%, expected to reach 45.5 billion yuan by 2029. Kayou holds a 71.1% market share in the country's trading card sector based on 2024 GMV.
While veteran collectors worry that the convenience of digital cards might impact the scarcity perception and pricing mechanism of physical cards, the market reality shows that physical cards remain resilient. On February 16, 2026, a 1998 Illustrator Pikachu card sold for $16.492 million at a professional auction, setting a new high for similar items.
Bandai Namco announced its Q1 2027 earnings on August 6, 2026, with net sales of 328.4 billion yen (+9.3% YoY) and operating profit of 69.2 billion yen (+33.3% YoY), marking a record high. The Toy & Hobby business saw net sales of 192.7 billion yen (+31.3% YoY) and segment profit of 53.9 billion yen (+89.1% YoY), driven by Gunpla, Dragon Ball, One Piece, trading cards, and capsule toys.
The '2026 Xianyu Card Ecosystem Observation' shows card trading volume on the platform grew nearly 20% from January to July 2026, surpassing anime merch and designer toys in scale.
Japan’s online marketplace Mercari saw its shares swing sharply after announcing a temporary listing ban on Pokémon’s 30th‑anniversary cards. The stock fell 6.4% on Wednesday, recovered 1.4% on Thursday, and jumped more than 4% on Friday, outpacing the Nikkei 225.
Takara Tomy participated in Anime Expo 2026 in Los Angeles from July 2‑5, showcasing its BEYBLADE X battle tops, Licca‑chan dolls and Gacha capsule toys. Over several thousand visitors attended the booth, with more than 7,000 fans taking part in BEYBLADE X tournaments and the limited‑edition Hatsune Miku × Licca‑chan doll selling out each day. The company used live battles, interactive attractions and a Gacha Galaxy to let North American fans experience Japan’s “asobi” culture and expand its global presence.
Taobao released the '2026 Taotian Toy New Opportunities' report, indicating the domestic market exceeds 250 billion yuan. With 36 million post-00s consumers and a 25% penetration rate, the report segments the market into three circles and highlights five key growth sectors: gaming peripherals, 'Three Kinds' clothing, celebrity merch, models, and trading cards.
Taobao released the '2026 Taotian Designer Toys New Opportunities' report, indicating the domestic market exceeds 250 billion yuan with over 36 million Gen Z users. The report divides the market into three circles and analyzes five growth sectors: game esports peripherals, 'Three Pits' clothing, celebrity peripherals, models, and trading cards.
Top card companies like Kayou and Hitcard are shifting from card-only to diversified entertainment, expanding into toys, stationery, BJD, and TCG products to build diverse matrices.
Takara Tomy Arts’ Gacha brand will make its North American debut at Anime Expo in Los Angeles from July 2‑5, 2026, with a dedicated booth. The “Gacha Galaxy” booth will feature capsule‑toy machines, a giant Gacha figure photo spot, exclusive giveaways and over 170 items—including more than 80 anime‑themed products and the latest Japanese trends.
KAYOU's IPO faces hurdles while new players like Suplay and Hitcard seek funding. The industry is shifting from low-price cards to high-value collectibles, with Chinese brands gaining an edge overseas.
At the 2026 Partner Conference, 52TOYS announced a roadmap featuring over 1,000 new products and 100+ IPs across seven major categories. The company plans collaborations tied to milestones like Pixar's 40th anniversary and Zootopia's 10th anniversary, while strengthening original IP development.
Kayou gave away 20,000 sets of horse-themed cards for 1 cent at the 2026 Spring Festival Gala, while a Pokémon card sold for 114 million RMB. The article compares these events, noting the card category is expanding its consumer base, and analyzes the strategies of Kayou, Suplay, and Hitcard regarding national trend IPs and financing.
Kayou became the first card partner of the Spring Festival Gala, launching the 'Galloping Steed Collection' gift boxes. The Gala distributed cards and announced an online sale, with 20,000 sets selling out instantly.
Krockie observes that Douyin e-commerce, via content ecosystems and platform events, drives sales surges for new brands like SiiNONO, AYOR TOYS, and SHININGSOUL in the 'emotional Abebe' trend, with multiple brands exceeding 100 million yuan in sales in 2025.
The 2026 toy industry sees a funding boom driven by LABUBU's global success, Blokees' IPO, and the rise of movie cards. Capital now values supply chain barriers and profitability, yet IP dependency, aesthetic fatigue, and international risks remain.
The 2026 toy industry sees a new wave of funding, driven by POP MART's global success with LABUBU, Blokees' IPO, and the rise of film trading cards. Capital now prioritizes supply chain barriers and profitability, though IP dependence, aesthetic fatigue, and international risks remain concerns.
The toy and card industry saw a concentrated wave of financing in 2026, with major players like POP MART, Blokees, and companies like Kayou and Flash Soul securing large rounds. Capital now prioritizes supply chain barriers and profitability, though IP dependency, aesthetic fatigue, and international risks remain concerns.
Sunsunny and Suplay have filed HK IPO applications, joining previously queued companies like Kayou and 52TOYS. Sunsunny ranks first in the affordable 3D IP toy market, while Suplay leads the non-battle card market.
Takara Tomy Arts will release the Miniature Panda Food Mascot series for Matsuzakaya Ueno in nationwide capsule machines starting mid‑February 2026, priced at ¥400 each. The five items—panda short cake, panda mille‑feuille, panda rice‑ball, panda bread and panda chestnut bun—replicate the store’s popular panda‑themed foods, are aimed at ages 15+, measure about 25‑55 mm, and will have a pre‑sale on January 24 at a special event.
2025年国内非对战式卡牌市场规模达235亿元，同比收缩26.8%。卡游、集卡社等头部品牌热销品数量下滑，但TCG、球星卡及影视综收藏卡等细分赛道表现亮眼，资本与出海布局持续加码。
Jason Entertainment, the parent company of Jikashe, secured a new round of hundreds of millions in strategic funding from investors including CCTV Media Fusion Fund and Game for Peace. Meanwhile, Card Kingdom's Hong Kong IPO application lapsed as its prospectus expired. Experts note the market's growth potential but stress the need for companies to expand boundaries to overcome development ceilings.
Kayou's prospectus expired on the HKEX website, marking its second failed IPO attempt after January 2024. Despite strong financial performance and leading market share, the company faces regulatory pressure due to its 'gambling-like' business model and concerns over minor protection.
In September, TOP TOY, owned by MINISO, filed its prospectus with the Hong Kong stock exchange, while the trading card company Hitcard was reported to be advancing its IPO process. Earlier this year, 52TOYS and Kayou also filed applications with the Hong Kong stock exchange.
Takara Tomy Arts announced that its capsule toy series “ふんばり～ぬ２” will start rolling out nationwide from late October 2025, priced at 300 yen per pull (tax included). The line‑up features five regular dog figures—including Bichon Frise, Pug, and two Chihuahuas—plus a secret figure, and introduces a large‑size Golden Retriever for the first time in the series. 2025 also marks the 60th anniversary of capsule toys in Japan.
Kayou and global sports collectibles giant Topps announced a partnership to launch the NBA Match Attax 2025 series in China, jointly developing official NBA-licensed products and leveraging Topps' global distribution network.
Kayou and Fanatics launched the officially licensed NBA Match Attax 2025 series on October 3. Available in 10 yuan 'Power Pack' and 20 yuan 'Super Pack' formats via Kayou's channels, the release fills the gap for licensed NBA trading cards in China.
