Pokémon Cards Would Likely Become Global Post Apocalypse Currency, Collector Claims

Pokémon cards will likely be used as currency following a global apocalypse, one venture capitalist has suggested.

Pete Levin, founder of VC firm Griffin Gaming Partners, said that the “global phenomenon” of Pokémon trading cards was perfect for use as a new form of currency, should the world’s current economy collapse due to some terrible catastrophe.

Levin claims to manage more than $1.6 billion of gaming assets and, handily, also happens to be the owner of some 500,000 trading cards. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, he explained that Pokémon cards remained a hugely profitable asset for collectors — and suggested that their worth would also be kept, at least to some degree, even after the nukes fall.

“Pokémon is a global phenomenon,” Levin said. “I’m absolutely convinced that if the world suffered an apocalypse tomorrow, the following day the global currency would be Pokémon cards.

“Pokémon cards are beating the S&P 500 by 3,000%,” he continued. “Emanating from Japan, it really took hold around the world in the late ’90s and early 2000s. It then had a zenith moment and then a nadir moment, and ever since then, it’s been on a parabolic growth curve. And that really has driven the international market expansion for trading cards.”

Despite being poised to personally profit if we all started to use Charizards instead of loose change, Levin also pointed to a few other reasons he was confident in his prophecy.

For one, card grading companies such as PSA now standardize card quality ratings and provide proof of authenticity. With these, cards have a clearly quantifiable value — even if the price attached to that is left for the market to decide. Then there’s the so-called “kidult” phenomenon, where adults now make up around 30% of global toy sales — a figure that’s on the rise.

“You’ve got a generation that has come of age that is nostalgic for these toys, for these vintage video games, for these trading cards and comic books, and they now have disposable income,” Levin concluded. “So that’s also been a huge tangible driver in the market.”

So, never mind the claim that there’s a greater than 10% chance AI will end civilization in the next 10 years. If you’ve got a couple of Pikachu Illustrators in your back pocket, you may still be able to buy a few tins of beans.

Word that we should all begin hoarding Pokémon cards for use after the apocalypse will likely not help ongoing issues with Pokémon card scarcity, which has prompted U.S. retailer Target to begin slicing open boxes to deter scalpers. In Japan, some releases are being limited to Japanese residents only, while facial recognition for adults and children has been rolled out in some locations to limit daily card purchases.

Pokémon cards have become a prime target for scalpers and thieves over the past few years due to their soaring popularity and the perceived value of rare cards. New card releases frequently sell out completely, and The Pokémon Company has appeared unable or unwilling to fully keep up with demand — despite a staggering 10 billion cards printed last year alone.

Looking to start your collection? We’ve also got a list of the 10 most expensive Pokémon cards of 2026 so far, and a first look at Mega Evolution’s Delta Reign expansion, set to release in November this year.

Image credit: Martin Lelievre/AFP via Getty Images.