HK collector team heads to US for ultra-rare Pokémon card unboxing with Logan Paul, witness $70m card auction

A Hong Kong-listed company is making history by leading the city’s first trading card collecting team to the United States for what industry insiders are calling the most significant Pokémon card event ever held.

MemeStrategy will take a delegation to the headquarters of Goldin, the internationally renowned auction platform in the US, on February 16. The Hong Kong team will join YouTuber Logan Paul and Goldin founder Ken Goldin for a live unboxing of ultra-rare 1999 Pokémon cards alongside the auction of the world’s most expensive Pokémon card — a PSA 10-graded "Pikachu Illustrator" card, with market forecasts suggesting the final price could exceed HK$70 million.

"Pokémon cards have evolved far beyond childhood nostalgia," said Ray Chan, CEO of MemeStrategy. "They have matured into internationally recognized cultural assets with strong appreciation potential and high liquidity."

Chan said the company's participation builds a direct bridge between Hong Kong collectors and the world's premier collectibles market, fostering dialogue between local collecting culture and global capital.

The event comes as the global trading card market continues its rapid expansion. The market reached US$15.8 billion (around HK$ 123.2 billion) in 2024 and is projected to grow to US$23.5 billion (around HK$ 183.3 billion) by 2030, according to industry data.

Pokémon cards have proven particularly lucrative. Data from Card Ladder, cited by The Wall Street Journal, shows the value of Pokémon cards has risen 3,821 percent since 2004, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 483 percent gain over the same period.

The 1999 Pokémon 1st Edition Base Set Booster Box featured in the unboxing of the event is a top-tier collectible. Its 36 booster packs were previously auctioned individually on Goldin's platform, achieving a combined total of US$1.387 million (around HK$10.8 million), with individual packs selling for between US$33,000 and US$45,000 (around HK$257,000 and HK$351,000).

The event's other major draw is the auction of Paul's PSA 10 "Pikachu Illustrator" card, widely regarded as the crown jewel of the global Pokémon trading card market.

Paul acquired the card in 2022 for approximately US$5.275 million (around HK$41.145 million), setting a Guinness World Record as the "most expensive Pokémon card ever sold."

As of now on Goldin, including buyer's premium, the highest bid for the card has reached US$6.324 million (around HK$49.327 million).