Rare Pokémon cards have become lucrative assets, with some selling for hundreds of thousands of dollars, driven by nostalgia, social media hype, and speculative investing. The resurgence during the pandemic mirrored broader retail investment trends, pushing prices beyond those of traditional markets like the S&P 500. However, the lack of intrinsic value, combined with rising thefts, fraud, and parallels to the collapsed baseball card market, raises concerns about sustainability. While investors chase profits, many collectors emphasize emotional connection over financial gain, highlighting the tension between sentimental value and speculative frenzy in this booming yet volatile market.