Promotional image created and provided by PUNKVISM.
PUNKVISM, a leading player in Korea’s Web3 ecosystem, is officially entering the rapidly growing global Trading Card Game (TCG) market. PUNKVISM Holdings Co., Ltd., led by CEO Hyunki Hwang, announced that it is preparing to launch a TCG card collection built around its proprietary NFC-based authentication system.
The global TCG market has already evolved into a major alternative asset market, with industry estimates placing its current value at over USD 8 billion. The market is also projected to continue expanding over the next decade, potentially reaching around USD 14 billion by 2034. The Pokémon Company reportedly produced approximately 10.2 billion cards between March 2024 and March 2025 alone, reflecting the massive global demand for physical card collecting.
From a collectible value perspective, TCG cards are increasingly being recognized as alternative assets. Rare cards such as Pikachu Illustrator have reportedly sold for around USD 9 million, while Magic: The Gathering’s Black Lotus has been valued at around USD 5 million in market estimates. These examples demonstrate how a single physical card can command value comparable to high-end real-world assets.
The on-chain TCG market, where physical collectibles are connected to blockchain infrastructure, is also experiencing rapid growth. In August 2025 alone, tokenized trading card platforms reportedly recorded approximately USD 124.5 million in monthly trading volume, representing an increase of more than five times from the beginning of the year. Industry observers increasingly view tokenized collectibles not merely as an adjacent NFT category, but as a core sub-sector of real-world assets (RWA). Platforms such as Courtyard.io and Solana-based Collector Crypt are also estimated to have generated annual transaction activity exceeding USD 750 million in aggregate, further accelerating the shift of physical cards into on-chain markets.
PUNKVISM’s key competitive advantage in the TCG card market is its NFC chip-based authentication system. While existing on-chain TCG platforms typically bring already-issued physical cards onto the blockchain, PUNKVISM is adopting a structure in which NFC chips are embedded into the cards from the beginning and mapped one-to-one with blockchain token IDs. When the NFC chip is tagged, the card’s on-chain ownership can be verified immediately. If the chip ID and NFT metadata do not match, the card can be automatically identified as counterfeit. According to PUNKVISM, this structure is designed to address long-standing issues in the card collecting market, including counterfeit cards and fraudulent transactions.
“As the TCG card market continues to grow rapidly, the issue of counterfeit cards is growing alongside it,” said Hyunki Hwang, CEO of PUNKVISM. “NFC authentication provides the foundation of trust that collectors need most. Our key differentiator is that we designed the blockchain and the physical card as one integrated system from the beginning.”
The issuance structure of PUNKVISM’s TCG cards is designed around digital authentication and physical redemption. Once a buyer purchases a package, they receive an authenticity certificate in the form of an SBT, or Soulbound Token. Based on this SBT, the holder can apply for delivery of the physical card. Only SBT holders are eligible to receive the physical card, and a delivery request is required. Certain card types may also include blockchain-based game items that can be used within PUNKVISM’s game ecosystem, including PUNKVISM Arena, such as character skins and equipment items.
PUNKVISM plans to design its TCG cards not merely as collectible products, but as integrated assets connected to its broader RWA ecosystem. TCG card holders will automatically become eligible to participate in PUNKVISM’s marketing ambassador league and may receive game items as rewards for social media promotional activities. This creates a new business model in which card purchases naturally lead to marketing participation and engagement within the game ecosystem.
PUNKVISM is currently preparing to file a patent application for this technology structure. After completing the domestic filing process in Korea, the company plans to pursue overseas applications in key target markets, including the United States, Indonesia, and India.
PUNKVISM emphasized that its entry into the TCG market is not a sudden move, but part of a broader strategy built on its existing RWA track record. The company has developed a series of real-world asset-linked initiatives, including the sold-out Fierce Haechi Arcade RWA project, the launch of HORU, an RWA ambassador project connected to four F&B stores at Namsan Tower, PVT’s verified presence on CoinMarketCap, listings and debuts on global exchanges including MEXC and KuCoin, and Forbes content highlighting emerging technology leaders in the Web3 and RWA sectors.
“The global TCG card market is entering an entirely new phase as it connects with on-chain infrastructure,” said Hyunki Hwang. “We are already a proven team in the RWA sector, where physical assets are connected with blockchain technology. Based on our NFC authentication system, we aim to build a platform that TCG collectors around the world can trust.”
The launch schedule and further details of PUNKVISM’s TCG card collection will be announced sequentially through the company’s official community channels.
