Core Insights - The rise of Pokémon cards as a new investment asset class is gaining traction, with returns significantly outperforming traditional stock markets [1][5][13] - The integration of blockchain technology is transforming physical card trading into digital assets, enhancing liquidity and market participation [1][10][11] Group 1: Investment Potential - Pokémon cards have shown a cumulative return rate of 3821% from 2004 to present, far exceeding the S&P 500's 483% increase during the same period [5][13] - The rarity and collectibility of cards create a market dynamic similar to financial assets, with high-value cards commanding significant premiums [3][4][5] - The market for Pokémon cards is projected to grow, with an estimated global market size of $5.09 billion by 2028, reflecting a 46% increase from 2022 [12] Group 2: Market Dynamics - The trading of Pokémon cards is driven by rarity, with high-demand cards often leading to a secondary market where prices can soar [2][3][4] - Platforms like Collector Crypt are facilitating the transition of physical cards to digital assets, allowing users to purchase NFT versions of cards, thus broadening the market [7][10] - The average spending per user on platforms like Collector Crypt is approximately $18,000, indicating strong engagement and interest in card trading [8] Group 3: Cultural and Economic Factors - The Pokémon brand has a unique cross-generational appeal, supported by a robust ecosystem that includes games, anime, and trading cards, which enhances its market stability [14][17] - The recent surge in interest in Pokémon cards in China is attributed to a growing consumer base and the introduction of local tournaments and events [16][17] - The cultural significance and nostalgia associated with Pokémon contribute to its value as an investment, as collectors are often willing to pay a premium for rare items [14][16] Group 4: Regulatory Considerations - The financialization of Pokémon cards is still in its infancy in China, with a lack of established secondary market infrastructure and regulatory frameworks [20] - Future regulations may focus on the issuance and trading of cards, ensuring compliance and protecting investors from potential fraud [20]

Summary of Key Points from Conference Call Industry Overview - The collectible card game market is led by Magic: The Gathering and Pokémon, each generating over $1 billion annually, with China's market starting later, marked by the success of Ultraman cards [1][2] - The success of the card industry is significantly influenced by the entry of major players like Wizards of the Coast, local anime companies, and Blizzard, indicating its establishment as a mainstream entertainment form [1][4] - Cultural differences shape card game preferences: the US focuses on sports star cards, Japan emphasizes anime IP, while China promotes through well-known IPs like Ultraman [1][5] Market Characteristics - The Japanese collectible card market, characterized by blind box models and anime IP, reached over 10 billion RMB in 2023, accounting for about 27% of Japan's toy market [1][7] - China's card market has low per capita spending compared to Japan and the US, with significant growth potential as the secondary trading market is still in its early stages and heavily regulated [1][8] Financial and Investment Aspects - The card culture has evolved into a mature industry chain with financial and investment attributes, particularly in the US, where it can be mapped to stablecoins, Bitcoin, and NFTs [1][6] - The secondary trading market can significantly amplify industry scale, with estimates suggesting it could expand the US market size by seven to nine times [1][10][12] Development Pathways - The development of the card game industry can be segmented into phases, with the US launching Magic: The Gathering in 1993, Japan introducing Pokémon in 1996, and China starting with Three Kingdoms Kill in 2009, followed by Ultraman's success in 2018 [2][3] - The entry of heavyweight players is crucial for an industry's success, as seen with Pokémon attracting numerous followers and competitors after its initial success [4] Cultural and Globalization Insights - The globalization of culture in the UK, US, and Japan has been successful due to their unique cultural identities, which have been validated by global consumer preferences [13] - China is beginning to develop its unique value proposition in global culture, with potential breakthroughs in IP and derivative products, but still faces challenges in copyright protection [14][15] Recent Market Dynamics - Recent market adjustments include developments in stablecoins and new IPs, with a focus on structural changes and advancements in AI technology, particularly with the upcoming release of GPT-5 by OpenAI [16]