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Research commissioned by eBay Australia finds more than one in four millennial collectors regret parting with their childhood Pokémon cards as search volumes and sale prices surge on the platform.
Pokémon trading cards are experiencing a resurgence in Australia, with eBay Australia reporting significant increases in search volumes and sale prices as the franchise approaches its 30th anniversary on 27 February.
Research commissioned by eBay Australia found that 28 per cent of millennial Australians who owned Pokémon cards as children now regret parting with them, as collectable values continue to climb.
A Pokémon Charizard 1999 Base Set 1st Edition sold for $25,800 on eBay Australia in 2025, while a Team Rocket Pokémon Booster Box fetched $29,140 during the same period.
Search volumes surge across key categories
eBay Australia reported that searches for Pokémon booster boxes rose almost 90 per cent year-on-year, while searches for “1999 Base Set Charizard” climbed 58 per cent.
Searches for “PSA 10 Pokémon” increased 74 per cent, and searches for “Pokémon Ancient Mew” jumped 128 per cent year-on-year. Pokémon ranked among the top search terms on eBay Australia over the past year.
Among the most expensive cards sold on the platform in 2025 were a Pokémon PSA 10 Sequential Poncho Charizard, which went for $19,515, and a 1999 Japanese Pokémon Promo Ancient Mew that sold for $4,800.
Cards increasingly viewed as long-term investments
The eBay-commissioned research found that 33 per cent of Australian adults surveyed have purchased or are considering purchasing Pokémon trading cards and items. Gen Z and millennials are driving the trend, with 50 per cent of those demographics engaged, motivated by personal passion (41 per cent) and nostalgia (37 per cent).
The data also indicated a shift in how Australians view trading cards. Some 33 per cent of those surveyed who purchased cards did so as an investment, spending $1,000 or more over the past five years.
One in five respondents (22 per cent) indicated they would prefer to leave collectables in their will, compared to just 12 per cent who would leave cryptocurrency.
The collecting mindset appears to be generational too. Two in five Gen Z and millennial parents or guardians reported actively encouraging younger generations to collect items like trading cards, while 45 per cent of respondents viewed trading cards and collectables as a tool to teach children about money and value.
eBay Live to mark anniversary with livestream auction
To mark the anniversary, eBay Australia is hosting a live shopping event at 6pm AEDT on 26 February, featuring Veronica Taylor, the original English-language Voice Artist for Ash Ketchum in the Pokémon animated series.
The auction will include rare cards such as a PSA 10 2021 Pokémon Celebrations Charizard-Holo Classic and a PSA 10 2018 20th Anniversary Red’s Pikachu, both valued at approximately $1,000 each, being sold from a starting price of one cent.
Taylor expressed enthusiasm for the event.
“It’s amazing to see Pokémon still going strong after 30 years. Those who grew up with the series are now sharing it with their kids, while it continues to be discovered by a new audience,” Taylor remarked.
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“I’m excited to join this eBay Live shopping experience for Aussies, where we can celebrate our love of Pokémon and bring a little childhood nostalgia into the present.”
Livestream sellers building businesses on the platform
Co-hosting the event alongside Taylor will be Sydney-based seller Lucy Hughes, who operates under the handle @madeoflucy and earns a six-figure income from buying and selling Pokémon trading cards online.
Since eBay Live launched in late 2025, Hughes has hosted more than 35 Pokémon trading card livestreams and sold more than 5,000 cards to collectors through the platform. During one stream, she sold a Van Gogh Pikachu card worth more than $1,000 in a one-cent starting-price sale.
Pokémon TCG YouTube creator Unlisted Leaf, also known as Michael “Ando” Anderson, will also join the stream.
eBay Live expanding in 2026
Alaister Low, Country Manager of eBay Live Australia, pointed to the platform’s early traction since its launch.
“eBay Live launched a few months ago and it is already catching on with Aussies, offering real-time live shopping, unique products and limited-time deals,” Low explained.
“eBay Live’s community is growing, and with Pokémon among one of the top search terms on eBay Australia, this eBay Live auction with Veronica Taylor will be a hit with collectors. We’re excited for the future of the platform as it expands in 2026 to host more trusted, verified sellers across more categories.”
Last Updated on February 24, 2026 by Nick Ross
