Pokémon TCG Pocket's controversial trading system fuels a thriving black market for digital cards. Numerous eBay listings showcase players selling digital cards for $5-$10 each, exploiting a loophole in the game's trading mechanics. Sellers exchange friend codes with buyers, sending cards in exchange for unwanted cards of the same rarity. This circumvents the game's terms of service, which prohibit the buying and selling of virtual items, yet sellers essentially profit without losing assets.
One example shows a Starmie ex listed for $5.99, requiring buyers to possess 500 Trade Tokens, Trade Stamina, and an "unwanted Pokémon ex" for the exchange. The seller gains an equivalent rare card in return, allowing them to repeat the process.
Numerous listings for rare ex Pokémon and 1-Star alternate art cards appear on eBay, along with entire accounts containing valuable in-game items. This, while common in online games, still violates the game's terms of service.
The trading system's initial release sparked controversy, primarily due to the Trade Token mechanic. Players criticized the high cost of acquiring these tokens, requiring the deletion of five cards to trade one of equal rarity. The black market's existence, however, wouldn't be solely attributed to these restrictions; the system's limitations, such as requiring friendship before trading, also contribute.
Reddit user siraquakip, among others, expressed a desire for a more integrated community trading system within the app itself. The current reliance on external platforms like Reddit, Discord, and now eBay, highlights this need for in-app trading functionality.
Developer Creatures Inc. has warned against real-money transactions and cheating, threatening account suspensions for violations. Ironically, the Trade Token system, designed to prevent exploitation, has inadvertently fueled this black market and alienated the community. While Creatures Inc. is investigating improvements to the trading feature, concrete solutions remain elusive despite ongoing complaints since the feature's launch three weeks prior.
Speculation suggests the trading system's implementation aims to boost revenue for Pokémon TCG Pocket, which reportedly generated half a billion dollars in under three months before trading was even available. The inability to trade 2-Star or higher rarity cards further supports this theory, as readily accessible trading would diminish the need for players to spend significant sums on packs for a chance to obtain rare cards. One player reportedly spent $1,500 to complete the first set, highlighting the game's monetization strategy.
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