Trading Cards Continue to Outperform Traditional Assets Over the Long Term
The trading card market continues to separate itself from many traditional investments, according to the latest Market Index rankings for June 2026. While equities and cryptocurrencies have faced increased volatility over the past month, several major trading card categories remain among the strongest-performing collectible assets over both short- and long-term timeframes.
Over the past year, Dragon Ball leads all tracked markets with a remarkable 206% gain, followed closely by Pokémon (+192%) and One Piece (+178%). Those three trading card markets now occupy the top three spots in the rankings, significantly outperforming major financial assets including Nvidia, Gold, the S&P 500, Tesla, and Bitcoin.
The gap between trading cards and traditional markets is particularly notable. Even after Nvidia's strong multi-year run, its 26% one-year return trails well behind every major TCG market except Magic. Bitcoin, meanwhile, remains the weakest performer in the index over the same period.
June Brings Continued Strength for TCG Markets
The one-month rankings tell a similar story.
Dragon Ball once again finished first with a 10.4% gain, followed by Pokémon (8.7%) and One Piece (7.7%). Magic: The Gathering also posted positive returns, while nearly every traditional asset in the index finished the month in negative territory.
Trading Cards Continue to Mature as an Asset Class
Although every market experiences periods of volatility, the latest rankings highlight the continued momentum behind the trading card hobby. Increased participation from collectors, expanding global demand, and growing institutional awareness have helped several TCG categories deliver returns that compare favorably with many traditional investments.
As always, past performance does not guarantee future results, but June's Market Index illustrates that trading cards remain one of the strongest-performing alternative asset classes across both short- and long-term timeframes.
Market Index performance is based on tracked market indices for each category through June 2026. Returns are for informational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice.
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