The Digital Rebound: Is the Sports Card NFT Market Heating Up Again?
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 23: People stand by ALT billboard in Times Square during the 4th annual NFT.NYC conference on June 23, 2022 in New York City. The four-day event featured 1,500 speakers from the crypto and NFT space with over 14,000 guests in attendance. (Photo by)
(Noam Galai via Getty Images)
The year was 2020. During an unprecedented time, the sports card market saw an unexpected rise. As the hobby adapted to a changing world, NFTs began to thrive. NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, are unique digital assets stored on the blockchain that verify ownership and authenticity—essentially, a way to prove that a digital item is truly one-of-a-kind. Between January and July 2020, five digital sports cards sold for $36,000 or more. The highest? A Kobe Bryant 1/1 Logoman NFT . Coming in second? A Zion Williamson 1/1 Logoman RPA —oof.
Unlike traditional digital files, NFTs can't be duplicated in a meaningful way—even if someone takes a screenshot, they don't own the underlying asset. At the time, the concept was still new to many, often met with skepticism and confusion. Questions like, 'If I screenshot your NFT, doesn't that make it mine?' were common.
Advertisement
But as the world began returning to normal, the hype seemed to fade. While not disappearing entirely, sports card NFTs quickly became more of an afterthought than the next big thing.
Fast forward to March 2025, and the sports card NFT market seems to have a pulse—one that's gone largely unnoticed by most. Panini, a major player in the trading card world, now runs a blockchain-based NFT marketplace featuring exclusive digital pack drops. Collectors can buy, rip, and resell cards instantly on the platform.
Each week, Panini highlights the top five sales—and the numbers might surprise you. Topping the list this week? A LeBron James Gold Prizm /10 that sold for a staggering $27,750. In fact, three of the top five NFT sales were LeBron cards, totaling nearly $40,000 combined. The other two? A Victor Wembanyama Gold Kaboom /10 that went for $6,000 and a Jayden Daniels Gold Kaboom /10 that sold for $3,500.
Just this morning, Panini launched its 2024 Obsidian Football digital packs —and they sold out within minutes. The rapid sellout has sparked debate once again: is this just another hype-driven fad, or is the digital card space here to stay?
These Obsidian packs are loaded with sought-after case hits like Kabooms, Colorblasts, Stained Glass, Downtowns, and more. Many of these rare pulls have already started hitting the NFT marketplace . A Caleb Williams Green Horizontal Kaboom 1/1 recently sold for $3,500, while a Jayden Daniels Blue Obsidian Rookie /25 went for $175, and a Brock Bowers Kaboom /25 changed hands for just $60.
Advertisement
As the dust settles, it'll be interesting to see how these exclusive digital cards are valued over time. The bigger question looms: is this surge in digital pack demand a healthy evolution of the hobby—or just another flash-in-the-pan get-rich-quick scheme?
Your collection deserves a community. Download Mantel today.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
When is Aryna Sabalenka vs Coco Gauff? Start time and how to watch French Open tennis final live on TV
Rivalry renewed: Aryna Sabalenka vs Coco Gauff in the Madrid Open final last month (Getty Images) Aryna Sabalenka vs Coco Gauff go head-to-head this weekend in the Women's singles final of the 2025 French Open. World number one Sabalenka beat defending champion Iga Swiatek 7-6 (7-1), 4-6, 6-0 in a blockbuster semi-final on Thursday, whilst Gauff overcame French wildcard Lois Boisson in straight sets (6-1, 6-2). Advertisement As a result, the two highest ranked female tennis players will meet the French Open final - the first time such an occurrence has happened since 2013 when Serena Williams beat Maria Sharapova. 2025 has been quite the year for Sabalenka. She has picked up three titles - including victory over Gauff in the Madrid Open final last month - and is looking to win her first-ever French Open women's single title. The same can be said of Gauff as she came up short against Swiatek in the 2022 French Open final. Interestingly, this will be the 11th encounter between Sabalenka and Gauff. Currently the head-to-head record stands at five wins apiece with the American claiming the biggest victory date, coming from a set down in the 2023 US Open final to secure her first Grand Slam singles title. Aryna Sabalenka vs Coco Gauff start time The 2025 Women's French Open final takes place on Saturday, June 7 on the legendary Court Phillipe-Chatrier. Advertisement The match is due to start from 2pm BST, which is 3pm local time. How to watch Aryna Sabalenka vs Coco Gauff? TV channel: In the UK, you can watch live coverage of the Women's French Open final on TNT Sports. Coverage begins on TNT Sports 1 at 2pm BST. Live stream: TNT Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the Discovery+ app and website.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Bath roar back to topple Bristol and seal Premiership final return amid Finn Russell injury scare
Mastermind: Finn Russell orchestrated Bath's comeback against Bristol before limping off in worry for Premiership final (Getty Images) Bath are heading back to Allianz Stadium Twickenham for another crack at the Gallagher Premiership final after running in four tries in a 34-20 victory over Bristol thanks to a powerful second-half performance. But the hosts had spent an anxious first half trying to quell the challenge of their nearest neighbours, whose unique sense of adventure lit up their play-off semi-final. Advertisement Bristol were 13-6 in front at the break and it could have been more. The try of the match was scored by their lock James Dun after Fiji wing Kalaveti Ravouvou set off from his own line, leaving four Bath defenders in his wake. Guy Pepper started in the Bath back row in the absence of the suspended Sam Underhill, while Cameron Redpath replaced Will Butt at centre. England prop Ellis Genge was recalled to the Bristol pack along with Dun and centurion Steven Luatua. A fast and furious first half opened with a penalty to Bristol which was quickly reversed for some ill-advised verbals. When Bath then laid siege to the visitors' line, Genge was the man who held up the ball to earn a relieving drop-out. Advertisement Both sides were probing for any advantage they could find and the first points went to Bristol as AJ MacGinty punished Pepper's infringement at a ruck with a straightforward penalty after 12 minutes. When hooker Gabriel Oghre broke clear, Bath had to defend desperately before Ben Spencer eased the anxiety with a long kick upfield. But Ravouvou, collecting the ball near his own line, somehow evaded a quartet of would-be tacklers and the home defence was soon spreadeagled at the other end. Lock Dun eventually cut a simple line to the posts and MacGinty added the conversion for a 10-0 lead. Ravouvou was soon sent to the sin bin for preventing a quick-tapped penalty by Spencer, allowing Finn Russell to pull back three points for Bath but MacGinty immediately replied to make it 13-6 at the break. Advertisement Losing scrum-half Harry Randall to a shoulder injury just before half-time had not helped Bristol's cause and a Ted Hill try converted by Russell straight after the break brought Bath level. Joe Cokanasiga swooped on a teasing kick ahead by Tom de Glanville to score Bath's third try shortly after to put them ahead for the first time. When Will Muir finished off a prolonged period of pressure by touching down in the left corner and Max Ojomoh added a fifth on the hour, Bath were back in command. With Russell faultless from the tee, the score was suddenly 34-13. Bristol were not about to lie down but very little luck was going their way and they were twice held up over the Bath line. Advertisement With six minutes left, Benhard Janse van Rensburg finally stretched out to score in the corner and MacGinty converted. One concern for Johann van Graan and his men ahead of next weekend's return to Twickenham, where they will face either Leicester or Sale, was Russell limping off after treatment to his left leg.
New York Post
3 hours ago
- New York Post
Novak Djokovic admits his French Open loss ‘could have been the last match I ever played here'
Novak Djokovic alluded to a potential retirement following his loss at the French Open on Friday. Shortly after losing the semifinals against top-ranked Jannik Sinner, Djokovic paused and waved goodbye to the crowd while walking off the court. Djokovic, 38, was uncertain about his future in tennis when speaking to reporters, saying that the match could be his final time at the Roland Garros. Advertisement 3 Novak Djokovic holds a press conference after he lost his men's singles semifinal match against Jannik Sinner at the Roland-Garros Complex in Paris on June 6, 2025. AFP via Getty Images 'This could have been the last match ever I played here, so I don't know. That's why I was a bit more emotional even in the end,' Djokovic told reporters. 'If this was the farewell match of the Roland Garros for me in my career, it was a wonderful one in terms of the atmosphere and what I got from the crowd. 'Do I wish to play more? Yes, I do. But will I be able to play in 12 months' time here again? I don't know. That's all I can say for the moment.' Advertisement The 24-time major champion had a hard-fought match against Sinner, but it was ultimately not enough as the Italian beat Djokovic 6-4, 7-5, 7-6 (3). '[It] was a straight-set loss, but I feel like I did give him a run for his money, so to say,' Djokovic said. 'I tried to make him work till the last shot. I did what I could. This is sport. You have to just shake the hand of the better player and move on. 3 Novak Djokovic cheers the spectators after losing his men's singles semifinal match against Jannik Sinner on day 13 of the French Open tennis tournament on Court Philippe-Chatrier at the Roland-Garros Complex in Paris on June 6, 2025. AFP via Getty Images 'I must say that I was proud of my effort tonight [and] in this tournament, considering I wasn't in great form coming into Roland Garros, but he was just too good for me tonight.' Advertisement Friday's match marks Jannik's fourth consecutive victory against Djokovic, with the Serbian now trailing the 23-year-old 4-5 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series. 'Jannik is the kind of player who loves to play [at a] very fast pace the entire match. He's very physical. He's very fit, and he's striking the ball incredibly well,' Djokovic said. 'He seems to always be on good timing. Rarely he's off-balance, and he's just playing the tennis of his life. 3 Italy's Jannik Sinner celebrates after winning his men's singles semi-final match against Novak Djokovic on day 13 of the French Open tennis tournament on Court Philippe-Chatrier at the Roland-Garros Complex in Paris on June 6, 2025. AFP via Getty Images 'Wherever you play him, whatever surface, you know that you're going to get that fast pace the entire time, which for me I don't mind necessarily so much, because it makes me alert from the very beginning.' Advertisement Sinner is set to face off against defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the French Open final on Sunday. 'These are rare and special moments,' Sinner told reporters. 'I'm very happy.'
