Timeless Bites: A Booming Market Worth Watching, Holiday Collectibles Go Digital & China’s Cute Collectibles Craze

06.12.2024

In This Issue

🃏 Digital Collectible Card Games: A Booming Market Worth Watching

🎄 McDonald’s & Doodles NFTs: Holiday Collectibles Go Digital

🐾 China’s Cute Collectibles Craze: From Playground Swaps to Stock Market Ripples

Digital Collectible Card Games: A Booming Market Worth Watching

The global Digital Collectible Card Games (CCGs) market is flourishing, merging traditional gaming with cutting-edge tech:

• Market Growth: Valued at $528.9M in 2021, expected to reach $1.87B by 2032 (CAGR 12.18%).
• Key Players: Blizzard Entertainment, Wizards of the Coast, and Konami lead the charge.

What’s Fuelling the Market?

• Esports Integration: Games like ‘Hearthstone‘ thrive in competitive leagues.
• Blockchain/NFTs: Players enjoy true ownership of cards, enabling robust in-game economies.
• Cross-Platform Play: Seamless gaming across devices expands the player base.

We think this blend of esports, blockchain, and accessibility positions CCGs is a definitive growth sector.

Source: https://www.businessresearchinsights.com/market-reports/digital-collectible-card-games-market-109749

McDonald’s & Doodles NFTs: Holiday Collectibles Go Digital

The festive spirit gets a digital twist with McDonald’s and the popular Doodles NFT collection collaborating on physical and virtual holiday collectibles.

So, What’s on Offer?

• 100M McCafe Holiday Cups: Featuring colourful Doodles designs, turning coffee cups into keepsakes.
• Exclusive Digital Collectibles: Customers using the McDonald’s app can unlock limited-edition NFTs with festive themes as well as Christmas badges and bonus content.

Why It Matters

• Bridging Physical & Digital: Collectors of all stripes can engage with NFTs.
• Seasonal Appeal: Limited-time exclusivity enhances desirability.

What’s our takeaway from this? In this seamless blend of nostalgia, creativity, and innovation, McDonald’s and Doodles are leading the way in introducing NFTs to mainstream audiences.

Source: https://en.cryptonomist.ch/2024/11/19/the-nft-collection-doodles-collaborates-with-mcdonalds-for-physical-and-digital-holiday-themed-collectibles/

China’s Cute Collectibles Craze: From Playground Swaps to Stock Market Ripples

In China, the love for anime and cute collectibles is driving a cultural and economic phenomenon that spans playgrounds, wallets, and even the stock market.

What’s Driving the Craze?

• Massive Growth: The ‘second-dimension’ market (anime, manga, related products) hit 210B yuan ($29B) in 2023, up from 5.3B yuan in 2016.
• Youth Spending Power: Young people born in the 1990s and 2000s are investing heavily in cards, badges, and plush toys tied to anime franchises.
• Social Media Influence: Platforms are fostering exclusive fan communities, amplifying demand.

What’s the Impact On the Stock Market?

The trend has sparked volatility in stocks tied to ‘second-dimension’ companies, with firms like Wahlap Technology and Alpha Group warning against speculative trading.

What Are the Challenges For Domestic Brands?

• Most popular IPs hail from Japan, South Korea, or the West.
• Chinese brands struggle to resonate as deeply with consumers.

The mania for collectibles reflects a powerful mix of youth culture, fandom, and economic clout. However, we think investors should tread carefully in this volatile space.

Source: https://www.sixthtone.com/news/1016300

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Further Reading

Over $100 Million Worth of Watches Sold in Geneva

‘Joachim-Ma’ Stradivari Violin to Appear at Auction, Estimated at $12-18 Million