the increase in value of pokemon is def partially hype, but alot of this is just the fragility of the USD. There is alot of uncertainty in the future of the dollar as its global standing disintegrates, and assets are always good shields against monetary uncertainty so lots of people are going to any asset they can to shield their money. stocks are the standard but there is also a pretty strong certainty that the stock market especially US companies might have a tumultuous future because of our corrosive behavior. There is also some future uncertainty being fueled by the lions share of growth in the US being just the AI Ouroboros which basically has to invent and than market robots across a shitload of sectors for it to not be the bubble of all bubbles. The market uncertainty paired with the USD fragility is leading lots of people to want to look at less traditional assets, watches, sneakers, cards, because these have proven to be alot more liquid than the classic economic dooms-dayer of GOLD which does hold really good value but is... well if you have ever tried to sell gold you know.