‘Combine your passion with an investment strategy’: Meet the venture capital using 500,000 Pokémon and trading cards as a hedge against a debt crisis

The U.S. national debt surpasses $40 trillion, and it continues to rise. Wage growth remains stagnant, job growth remains stagnant, and grocery prices are on the rise. As the 10-year Treasury yield approaches 5%, heavy government borrowing puts pressure on the bond market, leading some investors to seek safer alternatives for their savings.

One such alternative is investing in alternative assets, like NFTs, tokenized gold, crypto, and traditional market trading. However, one person has found a unique, creative investment vehicle in something unexpected: collecting Pokémon cards.

Peter Levin, a 55-year-old venture capitalist and co-founder at Griffin Gaming Partners, has been collecting Pokémon cards since the age of four. He co-hosts a Pokémon card competition with his colleagues at Griffin, demonstrating how his personal passion has evolved into a professional investment strategy.

Levin's collection of 500,000 trading cards, including about 100,000 Pokémon cards, has garnered a remarkable return of 3,821% between 2004 and 2025. He attributes this impressive growth to the nostalgia and connection that trading cards evoke, as well as their tangible nature and strong community surrounding them. Levin believes that Pokemon cards could even become a global currency in an apocalyptic scenario due to their worldwide recognition, accessibility, and the equal opportunities they provide to collectors.

Levin sees combining his passion for collecting with an investment strategy as a win-win situation. His vast collection extends beyond Pokémon cards, encompassing collectibles like sports memorabilia, bobbleheads, and even comic books. He emphasizes the stickiness of trading cards, crediting their long-term value to their unique aesthetic appeal and the stories behind each card.