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Though some positive news emerged—three of the cards sold directly by Aaban were verified as real due to original printing watermarks—the damage had been done. CGC faces immense backlash and scrutiny, as their authentication process and its integrity are now in question. With substantial financial risks involved, the grading company could potentially face litigation from collectors who invested heavily in these supposed vintage collectibles.
Future Perspectives
The scandal has also ignited discussions regarding the future of grading companies within the Pokémon trading card community. With PSA, a market leader, not involved in the grading of these suspicious cards, many collectors are left to wonder about the standards of authentication they can trust.