Welcome back to ALT Hits, our newsletter highlighting some of the top stories in the alternative asset space. What’s been going on the first few weeks of 2023? Take a look!

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APPEALING OR AP-PAUL-ING?

Few card collectors have picked up more press for their exploits during the trading card boom than Logan Paul. The controversial YouTuber made headlines for getting duped when attempting to buy a case of original Pokemon cards, purchasing the most expensive Pokemon card of all-time, and then turning that card into a necklace for his WWE debut. But now he’s in the news for two other projects. One successful, one anything but.

On the plus side, there’s Prime Hydration. The drink promoted by Paul and UK YouTube star KSI, is so popular, one online video suggested that a woman paid $1,500 for a 12-pack, prompting KSI to tell people to stop paying so much for it. Does this mean flavored influencer water is a new asset class? Likely not. But the rage around the beverage should cause more of a fervor around celeb-sponsored collectible items when they pop up on the market.

On the less successful end of the spectrum is Paul’s NFT game, CryptoZoo, which has been called a scam that caused users to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars. Follow that link to watch the first video from “Internet Detective” Coffeezilla, who lays out the ways Paul (allegedly!) scammed people. This is just another strike against NFTs and Crypto for the uninitiated, and a further red flag for athletes and influencers to get involved with Web 3 projects, as even GOATs like Tom Brady aren’t immune to the pitfalls.

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PURDY PURDY GOOD

Panini Spectra Football recently hit shelves, giving collectors a new way to land officially licensed, high-end Brock Purdy cards. Good luck, as buying one of his cards on its own is going to cost you.

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HIGH-END HITS

In addition to Spectra, a few more of the hobby’s most exclusive Panini products hit shelves this week, including Panini Flawless Baseball, Panini Immaculate Collection Basketball, and Panini Impeccable Football. Good luck if you’re ripping.

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‍LA LIGA OF NATIONS

In an effort to grow their fanbase worldwide, Barcelona has signed a deal with trading card company Daka to make collectibles of their team readily available in China.

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‍DUNNE GETTING STARTED

LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne has over 3.1 million IG followers, and is the highest-earning female college athlete with an estimated $2.6m in earnings thanks to partnerships from the NIL agreement. And now thanks to Leaf, she’s got autographed cards.

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‍DUCK DUCK SLABS

Last year we told you about Jacksons Food Stores selling their own Boise State football cards in Idaho, and now the trend has shifted slightly west, as they’re doing the same with the Oregon football team.

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‍ALL FOR THE NUKIE

A couple of YouTubers went out of their way to create a scarce asset by destroying numerous VHS copies of the 1987 movie Nukie, and then selling their remaining one for over $80k.

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‍TO THE VICTOR GOES THE VICTOR

Though we won’t be pulling Victor Wembanyama in any NBA packs until deep into 2024, his first card has landed in Sports Illustrated for Kids, where copies are already selling for upwards of $40 on eBay.

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‍D’OWMAN DRAFT

A production error has led to serial numbering mistakes in the recently released Bowman Draft baseball product.

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‍MAJOR LEAGUE GARBAGE

Topps partnered with artist Alex Pardee to release a limited edition MLB x Garbage Pail Kids set.

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‍BET ON YOURSELF

The 2022 Topps Evan Longoria Superfractor 1/1 was reportedly bought by Evan Longoria himself.

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‍POKE AND RUN

Pokemon cards, as well as other types of trading cards, have become a hot robbery target in Japan.

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‍FOXEY STICKER

A rare Jimi Hendrix Panini sticker from 1969 recently sold in an auction.

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‍BIG LOSER

Rounding up the bottom, Donald Trump’s NFT trading card is down 98% since launching last month.

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