The recently released 2025 eBay State of Collectables Report, compiled by Deloitte Access Economics and Dynata, offers a deep dive into the fast-growing world of collectables in Australia. From sports cards to trading card games like Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh, the hobby is evolving—and booming. We watched Cherry’s own Grayson break it all down in his latest video, and here are the key takeaways every collector should know.
1 in 3 Collectors Say It Helps with Stress—But Does It Really?
One of the headline stats from the report: over 30% of collectors say their collection helps them deal with stress. We're not quite convinced—especially with how stressful comp wars and card values can get in the TCG world but there's no denying that for many, the ritual of collecting provides an escape and emotional payoff.
Trading Cards Still Have Room to Grow
Surprisingly, trading cards ranked 8th among the most collected categories—behind even stamps and cameras. That shocked us, and for good reason. With how rapidly Pokemon cards, NBA cards, and other TCGs are growing in Australia, there's massive upside still to come. We predict trading cards will break into the top five most collected categories in the next five years.
Median Profits Are Rising
The median profit for collectors across all categories (including sports cards, fashion, and coins) over the past three years was $13,000, double the amount from two years ago. For card collectors specifically, this includes boom years for NBA rookies like LaMelo Ball, Jalen Green, and Evan Mobley, as well as consistent interest in sealed Pokemon booster boxes and rare singles.
Pokemon Cards Are Poised to Explode
The report points to nostalgia as a key motivator, especially for potential new collectors. With an estimated 5 million Australians considering entering the hobby, Pokemon—already growing strongly—may be on the verge of an even bigger boom. Think base set Charizard, modern alt arts, and future master sets.
TV & Movie Cards: A Comeback Story?
The report forecasts TV and movies as the biggest future influence on collectable trends. That’s good news for Marvel cards, Star Wars, and other entertainment-based trading card sets. Although prices crashed post-COVID, Grayson thinks the market will absorb the oversupply and grow with the pop culture resurgence.
Top-Selling Cards from the Report
Some of the highest performing cards included:
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A PSA 9 Base Set Charizard – the top-selling card on eBay Australia.
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A Flawless Cristiano Ronaldo and SP Authentic Tiger Woods card, which together brought in nearly $100K.
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A Muhammad Ali rookie card, featured prominently and possibly from Grayson’s own collection.
Why People Shop on eBay
The report also breaks down why collectors choose eBay:
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18% cited discounts and pricing
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17% said product range
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12% said authenticity guarantees
With huge historical variety and niche cards—from PSA 10 Pokemon to rare NBA patch autos—eBay continues to be the go-to platform for many Aussie collectors.
Final Takeaway
The future is very bright for sports cards and trading card games. Whether you're into sealed booster boxes, chasing Pokemon alt arts, or investing in high-end NBA autos, now is a great time to collect—and potentially profit.
Stay tuned on the Cherry site for more insights and product drops tied to the trends in this year’s report.
