The rare Pokémon card that controversial YouTuber and pro wrestling Logan Paul wore into the ring on several occasions, is going up for auction – although the card has been dogged by controversy over its actual condition and ownership.
Auction house Goldin has announced that the auction for Logan Paul’s Pikachu Illustrator PSA 10 (a condition rating from Professional Sports Authenticator) will be moved up by a week, reportedly because of global demand. Initially scheduled for January 12, 2026, the auction will open on today January 5, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. ET.
“This is the biggest Pokémon and trading card game auction ever held, and the unbelievable amount of interest we’ve already received led us to open early,” said Ken Goldin, Founder and CEO of Goldin.
This Pikachu Illustrator card is reportedly the world’s only PSA 10 example (although some would dispute that it is in perfect condition). Designed by Atsuko Nishida, the original illustrator of Pikachu, the card stands apart from standard releases in the much loved set as a winner of the 1998 illustration contest in Japan. Less that 50 copies of the card are confirmed world wide by PSA.
Paul acquired the card in a private transaction for $5.275 million in 2021, and it was later put up for sale on Liquid Marketplace, a platform co-founded by Paul that allows users to buy fractionalized pieces of high-end collectibles. The original listing on the now-defunct Liquid Marketplace site valued it at $5 million, with Paul retaining a 49% ownership stake. The original allure of Liquid Marketplace was that co-owners of items are paid based on their ownership stakes when items are sold.
At the time, Liquid owners had been unable to access those payouts on the platform, as it had become inaccessible, and Liquid Marketplace posted its last social media update in 2023. Basically, it appears that Paul might have pocketed the money from his own platform.
Paul claimed ignorance. “We were told that the funds had been redistributed, and I assumed that was the case,” Paul told Cllct. “When I put my card up for auction, it was news to me that people on the platform couldn’t withdraw their money.”
This has raised questions about the card’s ownership, although Paul told Clltr that he purchased Liquid Marketplace’s interest in the card for $250,000 in May 2024.
Liquid Marketplace was taken to court by the Ontario Securities Commission, which filed an application for enforcement proceedings against the company and its executives, alleging “multi-layered fraud in the crypto asset sector.” Paul was not named in the application.
This isn’t the first time allegations of fraud have been aimed at Paul; he has seen them in his 2021 failed NFT game project, Crypto Zoo. Paul even went as far as to sue a financial investigator and YouTuber Coffeezilla for defamation in 2024 over his investigation and series of videos looking into Crypto Zoo.
Although Paul showed off the card, wearing it on a chain around his neck on his ring entrance on his WWE debut and a few other occasions, it isn’t so precious to him that he isn’t willing to part with it for a huge payout.
“This is the most coveted card in the world,” Paul said in a statement. “It was absolutely unforgettable when I received the card, and I’m going to create that same kind of memorable experience for the next owner: I will personally hand-deliver the Pikachu Illustrator to the winner, share the whole backstory, and create a moment that will live with them forever.”
Goldin’s Pokémon & TCG Auction will open on Monday, January 5, at 8:00 p.m. ET, and will close on February 15, 2026 and will feature the Pikachu Illustrator PSA 10 card as well as some other rare cards from the set:
- 1999 Pokémon Base Set 1st Edition Holo Charizard
- materials from Pokémon’s 10th Anniversary event in New York.
- 1997-98 Japanese 2nd Tournament Trophy Pikachu, signed and sketched by Mitsuhiro Arita
- 2014 Pokémon World Championships Pikachu Trophy Collection, a complete set of four cards, including a Pop 1 pristine example.
- the 2025 Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy “Traveling Chocobo” Gold Serialized Card
- multiple factory-sealed booster boxes and cases from Pokémon’s early releases.
- sealed Pokémon video games, such as Pokémon Red Version and Pokémon Silver Version
- Ken Sugimori’s signed and framed “Dawn” original artwork
- 1993 Magic: The Gathering Beta Black Lotus
- the November 1999 TIME Magazine Pokémon Charizard/Pikachu cover
- a 1999 Pokémon Base Set 1st Edition Factory-Sealed Booster Box with potential for rare Charizard, Blastoise, and Venusaur cards
