Pokémon cards set record sale as Nintendo promises crackdown on scalpers

Heritage Auctions announced that a complete 1999 English‑language Pokémon Base Set, containing all 102 cards graded PSA Gem Mint 10, sold for $1,218,750 – the highest price ever achieved for the set at public auction. The sale, part of the company's largest trading‑card auction to date, underscored the growing investment appeal of the franchise’s collectibles.

At a recent shareholders’ Q&A, Nintendo president Shuto Furukawa acknowledged the problem of speculative buying and resale of limited‑edition Pokémon cards. He said the company and its partner The Pokémon Company are developing strict purchase‑limit rules for official channels and new agreements with secondary‑market platforms to curb high‑price flipping. The measures aim to protect genuine players and restore a fair market for the cards.