Coinbase teases Pokémon card packs with real-card backing

Users will be able to open Pokémon card packs on their mobile devices via Coinbase, with every digital opening matched to a physical card.

The exchange gave a sneak peek of the feature on X, but has not provided a launch date, pricing details, or a list of available cards, only stating it is arriving in the near future.

How Coinbase's Pokémon Card Feature Would Operate

Your binder is about to get a major upgrade.

Rip packs on your phone.
Every pull backed by a real, physical card.
Vault it or ship it.

Soon on Coinbase. pic.twitter.com/Utfwq30DSj

— Coinbase 🛡️ (@coinbase) September 28, 2026

In the teaser, five Pokémon-branded packs are shown, numbered 01 through 05 in blue, silver, copper, gold, and black. The colour variants may indicate different price levels, though Coinbase has not verified this.

Once a pack is opened, users have the option to vault the card via a custodian, or they can choose to have the physical card delivered to their address.

A user referred to the concept as Pokémon packs on the chain, to which Coinbase responded “you get it.” This suggests an onchain component, but no specific blockchain has been mentioned by the exchange.

Coinbase has not disclosed whether it has obtained a license from The Pokémon Company. However, a similar model is already in place elsewhere. GameStop offers digital Power Packs containing PSA-graded Pokémon cards, which customers can vault, sell, or have shipped.

Why a Cryptocurrency Exchange Is Targeting Collectors

This year, collectibles have drawn significant investment. In August, Pokémon cards outperformed Bitcoin and the S&P 500 over a three-month period. Additionally, Polymarket introduced prediction markets for Pokémon cards, enabling traders to wager on card prices.

This initiative aligns with Coinbase’s broader strategy. When a user joked that the company would onboard everything on earth, Coinbase responded.

well, we are the Everything Exchange,” Coinbase said

The move also comes as the exchange seeks to diversify beyond trading fees. Coinbase reported a net loss of $359.5 million in the second quarter following revenue that fell short of expectations.

A different user described vaulting as the true game changer. Coinbase replied that more features are on the way.

Nevertheless, several key issues are still unresolved, such as pricing, eligible regions, and how card values will be determined. Therefore, the full rollout will show whether collectors are willing to entrust an exchange with their prized items.