hot collectibles With the stock market booming like an old-fashioned ‘Wham-O Super Bowl,’ alternative assets are in the spotlight as investors look to far-flung corners – including collectibles – for different ways to make money.
Collectibles, by definition, are “alternative investments,” like any asset other than stocks, bonds or cash. While not a reliable way to accumulate long-term wealth, investing in collectibles can be fun and a distraction from the current market turmoil. Just be sure to do your due diligence and consult a financial advisor before making any major financial decisions related to your portfolio.
The $500 billion collectibles market has something for everyone—from sneakers to rare wines, luxury handbags, fine art, classic Star Wars action figures, and more. Here are four ways to capitalize on these trends in 2025.
Try Your Hand at Precious Metals with Coins hot collectibles
Coins that fall into the category of investment collectibles are a favorite among collectors. In 2025 – with stock markets fluctuating and precious metals prices at record highs – the value of coins will increase.
Gold bullion coins (and their silver bullion counterparts) often fall into this category. Official coins minted by sovereign mints (in the US, Great Britain, Austria, Mexico and elsewhere around the world) are legal tender, with metal weight and purity guaranteed by law.
Design, condition and mintage (how many coins were minted) are major factors in the value of these coins. But rarity is what separates mass-produced collectible coins, whose value depends on the amount of metal, from rare coins, which are worth far more.
Splurge on this year’s blockbusters
There are several big movies set to be released in 2025, including reboots of “Superman” and “Tron”, a new “Captain America” and sequels to fan favorites like “Wicked”, “Avatar”, “Jurassic Park”, “Mortal Kombat” and “SpongeBob SquarePants”.
The memorabilia and merchandise associated with these brands will pique collectors’ interest, and there will also be plenty of new capes, scales and plastic toys hitting the market.
These movies will also reignite interest in vintage collectibles tied to the original releases. Now’s a good time to pull those old SpongeBob Funko Pops and “Masters of the Universe” He-Man action figures (coming to theaters in 2026!) out of your toy bins to see what they’re worth.
According to The Intelligent Collector, several factors go into determining the current and future value of these collectibles, including rarity, condition (wear and tear on the item and the condition of the original packaging), variations (different versions produced) and nostalgia.
Put your trading cards to good use
Magic: The Gathering (the original version of trading card games), Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh! are the most popular franchises in this $20 billion-plus collectible category. Large player bases and established markets for resale continue to drive demand.
The secondary market for trading cards is huge and growing, but it can be a very volatile category because of gluts (record numbers of new cards being printed), changing collector interests and the volatile influence of celebrity collectors.
New releases and limited-time promotional releases attract collectors who want to make a quick profit within six to 24 months. Like day trading stocks, building a collection of cards in pursuit of big profits is riskier.
In the eyes of connoisseurs, classic cards – first edition sets, trophy cards and special cards – often attract nostalgic collectors who are willing to pay a premium to preserve memories of their youth. (Think: the first edition Pokémon 1999 English Base Set with Pikachu, Charizard and Mewtwo.) Like many other collectible categories, market value depends on rarity (size of print run), cultural significance and collector demand.
But there’s still money to be made if your collection consists of less rare vintage cards (so-called mid-value cards). For example, cards from the 2000s that would have sold for a few hundred dollars 10 years ago are now selling for thousands of dollars, according to The Intelligent Collector.
Buy a piece of a masterpiece
Don’t you love rummaging through your parents’ attic on the weekends or hunting for treasures on eBay? Don’t want to do PhD-level research to understand the nuances of K-pop collectibles? Leave it to the experts.
Companies like Masterworks and Yieldstreet allow investors to buy a fraction of ownership of collectible artworks, fine wines, and expensive spirits. Like blue chip stocks – well-known companies with a long-term track record of success – items that fall into these widely recognized collectible categories have an established record of growth.
While these items are curated by knowledgeable professionals (whom you pay in the form of investment fees and a share upon the sale of the item), future returns are not guaranteed. Also, carefully consider the terms and options available for selling your shares. For example, Masterworks holds artworks for three to 10 years, although you can sell shares on the internal market before the artwork is liquidated.
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Take a ‘passion before profit’ approach
The number one rule for anyone interested in collectibles is to invest in what you love. This ensures that even if the potential profit doesn’t materialise, you’ll get a guaranteed return on your investment in the form of enjoyment.
Just know that behind every story of a big prize (like a Van Gogh fetching $15 million at a garage sale) there are countless collectibles – like Beanie Babies, Hummel figurines, Hot Wheels and Thomas Kinkade prints – that eventually end up in landfill, not wallets.