The Grade10 Festival in Hong Kong‘s Wan Chai district concluded with a record 23,000 attendees, underscoring the city’s emergence as a key hub for trading cards in Asia. The event featured a world-first installation of over 400 PSA 10-graded Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat cards, valued at approximately HK$5 million (US$641,000), which drew significant attention from collectors and investors.
Hong Kong’s Role in the Regional Trading Card Boom
Hong Kong’s trading card market is expanding rapidly, serving as a barometer for growth in the Asia-Pacific region. The global trading card market was valued at US$11.4 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of around 5% through 2033, driven by factors like anime popularity and esports integration. According to local retailer HobbyX, grading volumes in Hong Kong now rival those of the entire Chinese Mainland, with the city’s tax-free policies and global connectivity attracting international dealers and collectors.
International participation was strong, with 20% of attendees traveling from outside Hong Kong, including notable collectors like Nick Uliano from the United States. Over 120 exhibitors, such as U.S.-based JayBee Collectibles, highlighted Hong Kong’s strategic position as a bridge between Eastern and Western cultures, facilitated by its diverse card offerings and logistical advantages.
Event Highlights and Collaborations
The festival included dedicated zones for grading, gameplay, networking, and trading, with anime-themed cards like Pokémon and Dragon Ball dominating 60% of the floor space. It was the first major event jointly supported by MemeStrategy, a publicly listed virtual asset venture, and online platform 9GAG, which has 200 million users worldwide. Their collaboration introduced the Threads Wall, an interactive installation developed with Meta’s Threads, which proved popular among attendees.
The Pikachu card installation, part of a 2023 collaboration with the Van Gogh Museum, symbolized the blend of pop culture and high-value collectibles. Four cards, including two PSA 10s, were distributed on-site, emphasizing the event’s focus on rarity and community engagement in the growing collectibles market.
