Inside the card-grading empire shaping the price of Pokémon cards

PSA remains the preferred grader for many Pokémon and sports card collectors, despite a backlog of millions of submissions. Its ratings can lift resale prices, giving the company’s service availability and pricing decisions influence over a market where cards are increasingly treated as alternative investments.

PSA reported 7.2 million items awaiting grading on 20 October, down from 12.4 million in July. It paused cheaper submissions in June and reopened its Value service on 29 October. One example of the price difference: a 1999 Base Set Charizard graded PSA 9 sold for about $3,440 on eBay, while a CGC 9 copy sold for roughly $1,890 on the same day. Grading provides a shared benchmark for card condition and authenticity, helping buyers and sellers compare prices and trade across borders.