EconomyHong Kong’s trading-card boom: How a game became ‘paper gold’

Trading card games have drawn players worldwide, while cards are increasingly being bought and sold as investments. The global market was valued at about $7.8 billion in 2025 and could reach $12.86 billion by 2031. An “Illustrator Pikachu” card sold for more than $16 million early this year, setting a Guinness record for the most expensive collectible card. Players, shop owners and an economist discuss the boom and its prospects.