Picture Comic-Con with fewer capes, more PSA 10s, and a disturbing number of people carrying $25,000 in raw cash inside a Jansport. Over 100,000 humans passed through those doors—dealers, collectors, curious dads, star-struck kids, and the occasional celebrity moving incognito (or at least trying to). It felt like stepping into the collective unconscious of America’s sports nostalgia...only everyone’s trying to get change for $100s.
Here’s what stood out:
1. Slabs > Suits.
This is no longer your uncle’s garage sale hobby. We met countless dealers who, just 18 months ago, were working 9-to-5s. Now they’re full-time sellers—many of them clearing six figures annually—riding the wave of market maturity, tech platforms, and a growing collector base hungry for tangible assets. The entrepreneurial energy was real. And honestly? Kind of inspiring.
2. WAX showed up strong.
Humble brag: we’re now partnered with two of the hottest companies on the floor. Conversations we had at last year’s National led to deals that now allow us to protect dealers, platforms, and collectors with the kind of flexible commercial and inventory insurance this industry’s been sorely missing. We’re not just watching the market evolve—we’re actively shaping how it operates safely.
3. Cash is king—and it walks.
I saw more loose stacks of 20s, 50s, and 100s than at a Vegas poker table. People buy fast. Trust is built in seconds. And transactions happen at booths, in back hallways, and occasionally across folding chairs with barely a head nod. It’s part of what makes The National so thrilling (and slightly terrifying). It also reinforces why WAX exists—because deals of this size need more than crossed fingers and duct-taped briefcases.
4. Culture > Commodities.
Yes, prices are hot. Yes, the market is gaining institutional attention. But what keeps this ecosystem alive is community. Everywhere I looked, collectors were sharing stories, comparing grails, and bonding over the shared language of stats, rarity, and that one card they regret selling in 2006. There’s heart here—deep, beating heart. And that’s what separates collectibles from any other asset class.
One more thing I’m proud of: we launched Collector Intelligence the same week as the show. It’s our new editorial platform—a destination for smart, thoughtful content that speaks directly to collectors. From trend analysis to client stories to market behavior across our platform, it’s where the conversation lives—and where collectors come to stay informed, inspired, and connected.
So yeah, The National was wild. It was exhausting. It was perfect.
We showed up. We listened. We partnered. We built.
And now we’re back in the lab, sharpening the tools that help collectors protect, trade, and insure the things they care about most.
See you next year—maybe with fewer receipts and more sleep.
But who am I kidding?
