In the heart of 2025, a seismic shift has rattled the grading world, leaving the once-dominant sports cards gasping for breath. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the era of Pokémon! According to freshly minted data from GemRate, the charming and sometimes cheeky creatures from the Pokémon universe are now the absolute darlings of grading companies. Just like Ash Ketchum in his prime, Pokémon cards are catching accolades left and right, comprising a jaw-dropping 97 of the top 100 most-graded cards at PSA.
The trading card landscape is noticeably evolving, reminiscent of grand epic Pokémon battles where Pikachu heroically thunders open pathways. Non-sports and trading card game (TCG) submissions now account for 59% of all graded entries among the four mighty authenticators for the first half of the year. This metamorphosis represents an astronomical 70% year-over-year climb for TCG and non-sports cards, tallying a hefty 7.2 million submissions from January through June. Meanwhile, sports cards have seemingly missed the evolutionary train, down by 9%, clocking in at a total of 5.1 million submissions in the same period.
Within the realm of Pokémon cards, the Japanese Iono’s Wattrel Battle Partners Promo No. 232 emerges as the most graded single card so far this year, with enthusiasts eagerly submitting over 45,600 copies. As impressive as these numbers are, the electric charm of Pikachu remains unrivaled. The flagship mascot, Pikachu, remains the face of the franchise, with over 345,000 graded examples of electrifying allure submitted in 2025 alone. Leading the charge is “Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat,” an artsy homage from the Van Gogh Museum collaboration that has sparked fervor with nearly 84,000 graded copies, transforming it into PSA’s all-time greatest Pokémon card blockbuster. Despite its plentiful numbers, PSA 10 examples dazzle most of all, recently fetching over $900 a piece.
Amidst this Pokémon pandemonium, sports cards have had a hard time making their mark. Only a paltry three sports cards find refuge in PSA’s top 100 most graded: the 2024 Panini Prizm Jayden Daniels rookie card (#347), the 2024 Panini Instant Caitlin Clark WNBA ROY card, and another Jayden Daniels collectible from Donruss (#389). Each attracted between 8,800 and 10,500 submissions—significant in their own league, but merely “Jigglypuff” standards compared to Pokémon’s “Charizard” submission fire meets water action.
A closer look at the month of June reveals the trend continuing with robust energy. TCG and non-sports cards defined whopping 63% of submissions. Within this realm of Fantasyland fanfare, PSA proudly graded a staggering 911,000 in this burgeoning category. This single company alone outpaced the entire sports card total of 743,000 graded across all major players in the grading world. The Poké-surge is indeed alive and roaring.
Venturing into the realm of CGC Cards—think of them as the Charizard to Pokémon’s global TCG impact—they have eagerly ridden this wave of success. By grading 2.18 million cards so far in 2025, they’ve nearly matched their entire output from 2024. Of these mega numbers, more than 1.8 million were drenched in TCG or non-sports verve.
Meanwhile, Beckett—the once-illustrious grading titan—has seen its crown shifted slightly askew. Now comfortably draped in fourth place among the big four graders, Beckett has witnessed its volume dwindle significantly. Of the 366,000 cards Beckett has graded in 2025, approximately 214,000 are Pokémon or TCG-related fares.
PSA’s burgeoning surge can also be traced to its strategic alliance with retail behemoth GameStop. Since the untangling of red carpet vines back in October, this powerhouse partnership has ushered in an influx of over 1 million enchanting grading submissions, generously contributing to this Pokémon boom.
In the realm of retail therapy, Pokémon’s charmed ascendancy has invoked scenes reminiscent of high-octane anime battles—long queues, fervent elbowing, and limited-per-customer restrictions for those blessed with rare releases. Card aisles have borne witness to widespread sellouts. It’s a staggering sight—a cultural phenomenon, heart-flipping like never before—leading fans and enthusiasts alike to question if Pokémon’s iron grip on the celebrity hobby is ever likely to loosen its hold.
The trading card world, forever spellbound by the latest 2025 grading marvel, can only watch in awe as Pokémon continues its triumphant march across the globe, one carefully graded gem of nostalgia at a time. So, dust off your binders and ready your Poké Balls—an exciting journey awaits!