According to the latest data from billions of searches, sales volumes, and growth metrics that made up eBay’s Collected trend report, the collecting market is thriving. Released this week, the report spotlights the items that captured global attention in 2025, revealing how nostalgia, pop culture, and alternative investments continue to shape the evolving online resale market.
The key takeaway for e-commerce watchers is the market’s continued shift from simple nostalgia toward a sophisticated intersection of fandom, cultural moments, and investment strategy. The report’s top search terms and sales figures confirm that collectibles are no longer niche hobbies. They are now mainstream assets, actively traded by seasoned resellers, casual enthusiasts, and first-time investors alike.
Trading Cards Remain a Market Powerhouse
Trading cards once again dominate eBay’s collectibles ecosystem in 2025, with demand accelerating across multiple categories. For another year, Pokémon cemented its position as the king of the Trading Card Game (TCG) category and a primary driver of the overall collectibles market. The search terms “Pokémon” and “Pokémon Cards” claimed multiple spots among the top-10 global searches on eBay from January through October 2025.
Aside from Pokémon, cards such as Magic: The Gathering’s Final Fantasy and Magic: The Gathering Marvel’s Spider-Man and other franchise-based card games have seen strong growth, driven by new releases, anniversary editions, and crossover appeal between gaming and collecting communities.
Sports cards also continue to attract global buyers. This is fueled by international leagues, rising athlete profiles, and limited-edition releases, particularly for basketball, soccer, and Formula 1.
According to the report, high-grade, professionally authenticated cards are tangible assets with a proven track record in a marketplace where transparency and trust play a growing role in purchasing decisions. As buyers increasingly prioritize condition, provenance, and long-term value, this TCG dominance signals a powerful investment trend, which reflects a broader maturation of the eBay collectibles marketplace.
Vintage Toys and the Nostalgic Collecting Surge
Nostalgia-driven collectibles are having a standout year, especially with growing pop culture moments. Vintage toys from the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s, including action figures, LEGO sets, and original packaging items, are among the fastest-growing segments on the platform.
Although pop culture franchises such as Star Wars, Transformers, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles continue to perform strongly, eBay’s 2025 data shows increased interest in lesser-known brands and region-specific releases. This shows that collectors are digging deeper, seeking rare variants and items tied to decades-old childhood memories.
This shift suggests that nostalgic collecting is evolving beyond mass-market icons, becoming more personalized and research-driven, which is an important signal for sellers looking to differentiate their inventory.
Luxury Watches and Sneakers Gain Investment Appeal
Luxury watches remain one of the most valuable collectible categories on eBay, with brands like Rolex, Omega, and Patek Philippe maintaining strong resale performance. Buyers are increasingly treating watches as alternative investment assets, especially with ongoing economic uncertainty.
Sneakers also continue their ascent as collectible staples in the resale market. Limited drops, collaborations with artists and athletes, and scarcity-driven releases have sustained high demand throughout 2025. The eBay reports show that authenticated sneaker listings see significantly higher buyer engagement, which underscores the importance of trust mechanisms in high-value resale categories.
These segments reflect how collectibles are intersecting with finance, fashion, and lifestyle, reshaping traditional definitions of collectibles within the online resale market.
Tangible Entertainment Memorabilia Goes Mainstream
Film, television, and music memorabilia saw renewed momentum in 2025, driven by franchise revivals, anniversaries, and streaming-era fandoms. Signed posters, original props, vinyl records, and tour merchandise have all recorded steady growth.
Music collectibles, in particular, are benefiting from a resurgence in vinyl and a renewed interest in physical media. Limited pressings, colored vinyl, and artist-exclusive releases are drawing younger buyers who value physical media in an increasingly digital world.
eBay’s data suggests that authenticity verification and detailed provenance are critical factors influencing buyer confidence in this category, especially with price increases.
What eBay’s 2025 Collectibles Data Signals for Resale Markets
The most important takeaway from the 2025 eBay collectibles report is that the market is diversifying, globalizing, and becoming increasingly professional. Buyers are more informed, sellers are more specialized, and platforms are investing heavily in authentication, data insights, and buyer protection.
For sellers, the opportunity lies in understanding micro-trends, maintaining high-quality listings, managing product scarcity and availability, and leveraging trust and verifiable quality. For buyers, the expanding market offers more choice but also demands greater research and discernment.
These collectibles trends point to a future where resale platforms function as both marketplaces and financial ecosystems supporting everything from casual collecting and niche hobbies to portfolio-style asset management.
