In summary
- Polygon Labs and Courtyard launched a tokenized auction of a rare 1999 Holographic Charizard card, valued at $250,000.
- The Pokémon card, graded PSA 10, will remain in a Brink’s vault while being auctioned as an NFT for 30 days.
- The project seeks to demonstrate how Blockchain can revolutionize the trade of collectibles, allowing global transactions without moving the physical object.
A pristine, shadowless, first edition Holographic Charizard Pokémon card from 1999 was put up for auction on Friday, tokenized via Ethereum scaling network Polygon and auctioned by collectibles platform Courtyard.
Polygon Labs and Courtyard have teamed up to tokenize the PSA 10 graded card, safely stored in a Brink’s vault, with an estimated value of $250,000. The 30-day online auction aims to demonstrate the potential of blockchain in the collectibles market, the companies said.
“This auction isn’t just about a Charizard card; it’s about showing how blockchain can revolutionize the world of collectibles,” Polygon Labs CEO Marc Boiron said in a statement. “From traditional collectors to DeFi enthusiasts, we are inviting everyone to experience the benefits of on-chain ownership.”
The Pokémon card that goes up for auction. Image: Polygon Labs/Courtyard
The digital platform enables the sale of physical items (such as cards) via blockchain tokens, or NFTs, with features including secure storage, high-resolution 3D models, and instant global commerce. Collectors can access an immutable record of ownership and trade without physical shipping complications. Owners who wish to have the physical letter in hand can have it sent to them from the vault at any time.
According to a Polygon Labs representative, the company “purchased the card directly from a reputable seller in the trading card space.” Similar cards have sold for prices between $264,000 and nearly $400,000 since 2020, according to data from Public.com.
“Tokenization is changing the game for collectibles,” Courtyard CEO Nicolas le Jeune said in a statement. “With this auction, we’re not just highlighting an iconic card; we’re demonstrating how Courtyard’s platform is transforming the way people collect and trade.”
Editor’s Note: This article was written with the assistance of AI. Edited and fact-checked by Andrew Hayward. Also updated after publication to note that the card is of the especially rare “shadowless” variety.
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