8 Collectibles Popular Among Gen Z Expected To Soar in Value Before the End of 2026
Some of the things Gen Z likes to collect could be worth quite a pretty penny even as soon as later this year.
You never know what might sell for hundreds or thousands later on. Which items are trash and which are treasure?
Here’s what experts had to say. Read on to see what items you might want to hold onto or start investing in.
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Graded Vintage Pokemon Cards
If you like collecting Pokemon cards, you could be sitting on a goldmine depending on the card. Ian Skjervem, CEO of Smart Investors Daily, said PSA 10 cards from the late ‘90s and early ‘00s have already appreciated a lot and other cards are coming up in value as well.
“In the past, there have been times when the Pokémon cards of certain key sets have doubled or tripled in value," Skjervem said. "This happened with Charizard base set cards, which went from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands of dollars in a relatively short period of time when millennial nostalgia peaked. Gen Z nostalgia is in that cycle and thus the window for appreciation is longer.”
One Piece Trading Cards
“One Piece” is a popular manga series that now has a trading card game that has become extremely popular.
“While the Pokemon Trading Card Game is a well-established blue-chip investment, the One Piece Trading Card Game will experience dramatic growth and the pricing data is already reflecting that expectation,” said Jason Vaught, director of content and marketing at SmashBrand. “As the 'One Piece' set is now completely out of print, the number of copies available for sale is decreasing rapidly.”
Vaught said celebrity endorsements and social media posts could add to the demand for these cards and prices could increase between 80% to 100%.
Sports Trading Cards
If you think baseball cards are a useless relic of the past–think again. Trading cards with prominent sports figures can still be worth quite a bit.
“Rookie cards of Caitlin Clark have sold for $660,000, showing the type of money being made with the right players,” said Cody Schuiteboer, president and CEO of Best Interest Financial. “Sealed product is the 'smart-money' version of this activity.”
Retro Handheld Gaming Hardware
Though many gamers have moved entirely online, there is a lot of demand for the physical gaming pieces of the past. Original Game Boys and early Nintendo DS models are among the high-value items Skjervem highlighted: “Right now, the appreciation rate for retro gaming hardware is around 30% to 80% per year. As the original units become less available in working condition, the rate increases.”
Vintage LEGO Sets
If you bought a LEGO set awhile back, it may be valuable now because it’s no longer being made.
“As production ceases on these sets, collectors realize they only have a small amount of time left to acquire what they need,” said Ashley Akin, certified public accountant (CPA) and senior contributor at TMGM. “This creates added pressure for other collectors to purchase the remaining sets and values may increase 10% to 30%, depending on availability.”
Funko POP! Figures
Funko POP! releases tend to create lines outside the door of the stores — and for good reason. Akin said the limited releases of these collectibles creates high demand.
“When a character experiences renewed popularity within the Funko community, collectors may begin purchasing figures and prices can escalate rapidly. Sealed POP!s of high value characters may experience increases of 15% to 40%,” Akin added.
Limited Vinyl Pressings
For music lovers who want to build some value in their collection, Skjervem recommended going for the limited editions that popular artists are releasing.
“The scarcity logic is also followed by limited vinyl pressings from Gen Z artists such as Tyler the Creator and Olivia Rodrigo," Skjervem said. "In the months following a sellout, limited pressings by breakout Gen Z artists often generate 200% to 400% returns on resale sites.”
Sneakers
Sneakers are another commodity that creates long lines outside the store. Akin said this is less about the comfort of the shoe and more about collecting them as an investment.
“Limited edition shoes are considered highly desirable by collectors. If the original release was extremely difficult to obtain and there is little to no inventory available at retail stores, values may increase anywhere from 10% to 35%,” Akin added.
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This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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