Mercari Shares Recover Following Pokémon Anniversary Listing Restrictions
Mercari shares recovered after dropping due to temporary Pokémon anniversary listing restrictions. The global collectibles market continues to surge with record card prices.
Shares of Japanese online marketplace Mercari rose by over 4% before closing up 0.7%, continuing a recovery from a sharp drop earlier in the week. The stock had tumbled 6.4% on Wednesday after the company imposed temporary restrictions on listings for the 30th anniversary of Pokémon, recovering 1.4% the following day. Mercari stated that the restrictions were introduced due to concerns that a surge in transactions following the anniversary launch could spark disputes and harassment among users, noting they will remain in place until a safe trading environment can be guaranteed. In 2023, Mercari signed an agreement with The Pokémon Company to promote safer trade, and in 2025 introduced a policy allowing listing limits during fraud threats, trade disputes, or extreme price volatility.
The current restrictions come amid a worldwide boom in the Pokémon card market. eBay reported that the word "Pokémon" generated over 6 million searches in the UK in July alone, highlighting sustained demand for collectible cards. According to an index compiled by Collectors, Pokémon card prices have skyrocketed by 1,350% since 2020. In February, prominent YouTuber Logan Paul sold a rare Pikachu Illustrator card for more than $16 million, having purchased it in 2021 for slightly over $5 million, with new cards often selling out within minutes of release.
