Paper beats JPEG this time.
By Maxime Laurent · 2026-02-16 09:49
Paper beats JPEG this time.
Logan Paul flips a rare Pokémon card for $16.5M, turning $5.275M into a world record win.
There’s something poetic about it.
Logan Paul once bought an NFT near the euphoric top and watched it collapse into dust. But now? He just sold a rare Pokémon card for $16.5 million — a new all-time record.
Five years ago, he paid $5.275 million for that same card. That’s a clean 3x on a physical collectible in a market where most 2021 NFT buyers are still underwater.
For comparison, the previous record belonged to the legendary
2007 Upper Deck Exquisite Michael Jordan–Kobe Bryant Logoman Autograph 1/1 — sold in August 2025 for $12.93 million.
Let that sink in.
A piece of cardboard outperformed most “revolutionary” digital collectibles.
Now, before we shout “NFTs are dead” — let’s breathe.
The difference isn’t paper vs blockchain.
It’s proven cultural gravity.
Pokémon cards have 25+ years of nostalgia, scarcity, grading systems, collectors, history. They survived cycles, recessions, trends. NFTs in 2021 were mostly born and priced within 18 months of pure liquidity mania.
That’s not the same foundation.
In crypto, we often confuse innovation with inevitability. Just because something is on-chain doesn’t mean it has lasting demand.
Would I personally bet against digital ownership long term? Non.
But would I pay peak-cycle prices for hype again? Jamais.
This story isn’t about Logan.
It’s about durability vs narrative.
Real value compounds slowly. Hype explodes fast.
And if you’re in this market for the long game — study what survives cycles, not what trends on X for 48 hours. 🔥
#Crypto #NFT #Collectibles #MarketCycles #Investing
Logan Paul flips a rare Pokémon card for $16.5M, turning $5.275M into a world record win.
There’s something poetic about it.
Logan Paul once bought an NFT near the euphoric top and watched it collapse into dust. But now? He just sold a rare Pokémon card for $16.5 million — a new all-time record.
Five years ago, he paid $5.275 million for that same card. That’s a clean 3x on a physical collectible in a market where most 2021 NFT buyers are still underwater.
For comparison, the previous record belonged to the legendary
2007 Upper Deck Exquisite Michael Jordan–Kobe Bryant Logoman Autograph 1/1 — sold in August 2025 for $12.93 million.
Let that sink in.
A piece of cardboard outperformed most “revolutionary” digital collectibles.
Now, before we shout “NFTs are dead” — let’s breathe.
The difference isn’t paper vs blockchain.
It’s proven cultural gravity.
Pokémon cards have 25+ years of nostalgia, scarcity, grading systems, collectors, history. They survived cycles, recessions, trends. NFTs in 2021 were mostly born and priced within 18 months of pure liquidity mania.
That’s not the same foundation.
In crypto, we often confuse innovation with inevitability. Just because something is on-chain doesn’t mean it has lasting demand.
Would I personally bet against digital ownership long term? Non.
But would I pay peak-cycle prices for hype again? Jamais.
This story isn’t about Logan.
It’s about durability vs narrative.
Real value compounds slowly. Hype explodes fast.
And if you’re in this market for the long game — study what survives cycles, not what trends on X for 48 hours. 🔥
#Crypto #NFT #Collectibles #MarketCycles #Investing
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and not financial advice.