Part 4/9:
Takumi Aaban, one of the original developers of the Pokémon trading card game, began selling his collection of these rare cards. Partnering with the Certified Guarantee Company (CGC), Aaban authenticated and graded these cards, making them some of the hottest collectibles of 2024. The popularity of graded cards has surged, with high ratings significantly boosting their market value. For instance, a perfect grade Pikachu card sold for an astounding $5.2 million in 2022—a testament to the lucrative nature of authenticated collectibles.