📰 Weekly Collectible News

📰 Weekly Collectible News 04/20/2025

It’s been a massive week for both digital and physical collectors. From blockbuster acquisitions and expanding universes to tax drama and platform upgrades—here’s everything you need to know to stay ahead of the curve 👇

🚨 Futureverse Acquires Candy Digital — A New Era for Web3 Collecting

Futureverse, a metaverse infrastructure and AI-powered entertainment company, has acquired Candy Digital, the licensed NFT platform known for drops tied to MLB, Netflix, DC Comics, WWE, and more.

This isn’t just a business acquisition—it’s a foundational shift for how collectors might experience and own their digital assets moving forward.

🧠 What’s Changing:

• 🍬 Candy’s 4M+ digital collectibles and 1.5M+ user accounts will migrate to The Root Network, Futureverse’s Layer 1 blockchain

• 🤖 Futureverse plans to add AI, storytelling tools, gamification, and avatar interaction to Candy’s ecosystem

• 🪪 For the first time, Candy’s digital assets will have the potential for true self-custody and interoperability with other blockchain experiences

🔓 Interoperability + Self-Custody = Collector Empowerment

This merger introduces a major upgrade to how Candy NFTs could function:

• ✅ Self-custody options are now possible via The Root Network, which is Ethereum-compatible, meaning users can store assets in their own wallets—not just a closed system

• 🔄 Interoperability means Candy NFTs may no longer be siloed. Expect potential integrations with metaverse experiences, games, avatar builders, or other dApps within the Futureverse ecosystem

• 🧩 Think of it like taking your MLB moments or Stranger Things NFTs outside the stadium—and into an open world of Web3 interactions

This aligns with a larger industry push toward true digital ownership, where collectors control access, resale, and long-term value.

📣 Why This Is Big:

• Legacy Candy users might gain utility upgrades, token-gated experiences, or cross-platform functionality

• AI-driven enhancements could turn static collectibles into living experiences

• This is a major Web3 infrastructure move that could reshape digital fandom across sports and entertainment

We’ll be tracking announcements closely for when bridging, claiming, and migration tools go live—and if any reward mechanics are included for early Candy adopters.

📚 VeeFriends Enters the Comic Book Space — The Battle for Balance Begins

Gary Vaynerchuk just launched the first official VeeFriends comic book, kicking off a new chapter in the evolution of the brand—from Web3 collectibles to rich storytelling IP.

About VeeFriends #1: The Battle for Balance Begins:

• Only 555 copies of the physical edition were printed

• Given exclusively to Gift Goat holders as part of Gift #15

• Comes with a CGC-graded comic, J. Scott Campbell-drawn cover print, digital NFT, and 1-year CGC Elite Membership

But here’s the kicker:

• You can read the full comic for free online at veefriends.com/comics

• The next issue, VeeFriends #2, drops May 1st at 4:30PM ET on Whatnot

• That drop includes 3,000 blind-bagged copies with multiple cover rarities

Why It Matters:

This move officially marks the IP expansion of VeeFriends into the publishing world—and they’re doing it with top-tier talent and distribution.

It’s a smart play to legitimize VeeFriends as more than collectibles: it’s storytelling, worldbuilding, and brand development. Expect these early issues to gain value over time as the universe grows.

🏆 VeVe Introduces Comic Sets — MCP Points Just Got a Boost

Big news for collectors on VeVe: the app just launched a long-awaited feature that allows users to earn extra MCP points for completing comic sets across rarities.

This is part of VeVe’s larger push to reward collectors and create more structure and progression through the Master Collector Program.

Here’s what’s new:

• 🏅Complete all five rarities of a comic (Common → Secret Rare) to form a Set

• 🧮 You’ll receive a one-time +100 MCP point bonus

• 📆 You’ll also earn daily MCP points based on how many comics are in the set:

  • 1 Comic = +1 MCP/day

  • 5+ Comics = +5 MCP/day

• 🌀 Diminishing returns apply on duplicates:

  • 2nd set = 30% value

  • 3rd set = 20%

  • 4+ = 10%

Collectors can now track all of this using the new “My Comic Sets” dashboard, which makes it easier to focus your strategy—whether you're building for fun, flex, or future airdrops.

Why It Matters:

This is one of the strongest incentive updates VeVe has rolled out in months. It directly rewards completionist behavior and gives digital comics more functional utility within the app’s gamified economy.

Expect increased buying pressure on low-edition rarities (especially Secret Rares) as collectors rush to complete their sets and max out their MCP score.

⚖️ CryptoPunk Whale Pleads Guilty to Hiding $13M in Profits — Faces Prison Time

In a landmark enforcement case for NFT taxation, a Pennsylvania man named Waylon Wilcox has pleaded guilty to concealing over $13 million in profits from the sale of 97 CryptoPunks.

What happened:

• Wilcox sold 62 CryptoPunks in 2021 for $7.4M

• Sold another 35 in 2022 for $4.9M

• He answered “No” to digital asset questions on both years’ tax returns

• Evaded $3.2M+ in federal taxes

Now? He’s facing up to 6 years in prison, supervised release, and serious financial penalties.

Why It Matters:

This is the first major NFT-related federal tax case, and the IRS used it to send a loud message: they are tracking blockchain activity, and they will pursue underreporting.

If you’re flipping NFTs, crypto, or even receiving airdrops—don’t sleep on tax reporting. The Wild West era is over.

🤝 PSA x GoCollect Partnership — Comics Just Got More Data-Driven

PSA, the industry leader in grading, has officially partnered with GoCollect, one of the top comic price tracking platforms—and this is a big deal for comic investors and flippers.

Here’s what’s happening:

• GoCollect will now integrate PSA’s pop reports and graded data

• Users can cross-reference market value + population in one place

• This gives PSA a foothold in the comic pricing ecosystem, long dominated by CGC

Why It Matters:

This partnership will bring a more data-rich environment to comic investing, especially as PSA grows its presence in the graded comics space.

It may also signal a shift in grading preference over time—especially if GoCollect prioritizes PSA slabs in their analytics, or if pricing gaps begin to close between PSA and CGC.

For collectors, this means better tools, smarter flips, and possibly some grading competition that drives innovation (and maybe even pricing flexibility).

🔥 Fanatics Collect Weekly Auction — WA169 Results (Closed April 13, 2025)

Fanatics wrapped up another massive weekly auction featuring some absolute monsters across TCG, basketball, soccer, and historic memorabilia.

🐉 Pokémon Heat:

• 1999 Pokémon Base Set Shadowless Holo Charizard #4 PSA 10 GEM MINT
  💰 $66,000 (w/ buyer’s premium)
  A holy grail card in flawless condition. PSA 10 shadowless Charizards remain one of the most coveted TCG assets in the world.

  

• 1999 Pokémon Shadowless 1st Edition Charizard #4 BGS 9.5 GEM MINT
  💰 $45,600
  Slightly lower pop and grade than the PSA 10, but still a titan-level sale. The Shadowless 1st Edition continues to hold elite blue-chip status in collectibles.

  

🏀 Court Kings:

• 2017 Panini Flawless Star Swatch Gold Jayson Tatum RPA /10 (BGS 9)
  💰 $22,800
  Rookie Patch Auto, pop 1 of 4, with just two graded higher. Tatum’s market is heating as the Celtics eye another deep playoff run.

  

• 2003 Topps Chrome Black Refractor LeBron James ROOKIE /500 (BGS 9)
  💰 $18,000
  One of LeBron’s most iconic and limited rookie cards. The black refractor /500 still commands strong prices two decades later.

  

• 2012 Immaculate Jumbo Patch Auto Kobe Bryant /75 (BGS 9)
  💰 $18,000
  A premium piece of Mamba memorabilia. With limited autos available post-career, Kobe’s modern patches remain investment-grade assets.

  

🏈 Football Legend

• 2020 National Treasures Joe Burrow RPA /99 (BGS 9)
  💰 $18,000
  Despite a rocky season, Burrow RPAs are holding firm—especially low-numbered NTs in strong condition.

  

⚽ Global Icons:

• 2018 Panini Prizm World Cup Scorers Club Black 1/1 Cristiano Ronaldo (BGS 9.5)
  💰 $19,200
  Population 1 of 1. With zero graded higher, this 1/1 is a crown jewel for Ronaldo collectors and global football fans alike.

  

⚾ Legends Live On:

• Jackie Robinson Signed HOF Plaque Postcard (“Best Wishes”) — JSA Authenticated
  💰 $17,400
  A beautiful and personal autograph from one of the most important figures in sports history. These rarely surface, and prices continue to climb.

This week’s auction results showcase strength across high-grade vintage, modern rookies, and culturally iconic cards. Whether you're chasing 1/1s or legends of the game, the right assets are still commanding premium attention.

🔥 Finds of the Week

Each week we spotlight undervalued collectibles, overlooked gems, or timely opportunities based on market trends, drops, or major announcements. Here's what made the list this week 👇

🟥 Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace #3 (1999)

📌 First Comic Appearance of Darth Maul
💥 Why It’s Hot: Following the announcement of the Maul: Shadow Lord animated series at Star Wars Celebration Japan, collectors are revisiting Darth Maul’s earliest comic appearances. This issue features his first full appearance and ties directly into his debut in The Phantom Menace.
🧠 Speculation Angle: Maul’s resurgence could lead to a spike in interest for early key appearances—especially if new characters or continuity are tied to this series.
💰 Current FMV:

• Raw NM: ~$25–$40

• CGC 9.8: $150

🟪 Star Wars: Kanan – The Last Padawan #1 (2015)

📌 First Comic Appearance of Garazeb “Zeb” Orrelios
💥 Why It’s Hot: With the Star Wars: Rebels crew making major moves in live-action (Ahsoka, Skeleton Crew), interest is rising in the first comic appearances of Zeb, Kanan, Hera, Ezra, and Sabine—all of whom appear in this issue.
🧠 Speculation Angle: Zeb was recently seen in The Mandalorian, and the rest of the crew is active across Disney+ content. If Rebels gets more live-action focus (or a film), this book could explode.
💰 Current FMV:

• Raw NM: ~$20–$35

• CGC 9.8: ~$175–$225 (and rising)

  

🎉 Giveaway Winner of the Week

Every week, we give back to our amazing Nerdcave77 community with a collectible giveaway—just for being part of the squad 🙌 Whether you’re here for the news, the finds, or the flips, we appreciate every one of you who opens, reads, and shares the newsletter.

Let’s see who’s taking home this week’s prize 👇

📈 Top Trending NFT Projects of the Week

Each week, we track the top-performing NFT collections based on sales volume and market movement—giving you a snapshot of where attention (and ETH) is flowing.

Whether it’s long-standing blue chips or breakout projects catching fire, here are the top 5 movers making waves this week 👇

1️⃣ Courtyard.io

💸 Floor: < 0.01 WETH
📈 Change: +6.4%
🔍 Why it’s moving: Physical-backed digital collectibles are gaining momentum. Courtyard continues to draw attention with tokenized graded cards and active burning mechanics—making this a low-cost, high-utility play to watch.

2️⃣ Dungeons of Fortune

💸 Floor: 0.02 ETH
📉 Change: -22.7%
🔍 Why it’s down: After early buzz, the project is cooling off. A sharp dip this week may signal a re-entry point for believers, but short-term sentiment looks shaky.

3️⃣ Mutant Ape Yacht Club

💸 Floor: 2.46 ETH
📈 Change: +3.1%
🔍 Why it’s rising: MAYC continues to hold strong amid broader market uncertainty. As BAYC ecosystem news brews, Mutants remain a more affordable blue-chip exposure.4️⃣ Good Vibes Club

💸 Floor: 0.37 ETH
📈 Change: +44.4%
🔍 Why it’s popping: Big vibes = big volume. Good Vibes Club saw a breakout this week, with community-driven marketing and speculation on upcoming utility fueling the run. One of the week’s biggest percentage movers.

5️⃣ Bored Ape Yacht Club

💸 Floor: 14.11 ETH
📉 Change: 0%
🔍 Why it’s steady: The king stays king—for now. While no movement this week, BAYC still leads in raw volume and remains the market's benchmark for blue-chip NFTs.

🚨 Upcoming Heat

Here are the Top 5 most anticipated comic releases dropping April 23, 2025. Whether you’re a day-one reader or long-term collector, these books are packed with potential for both story and speculation:

🦇 Batman #159 (DC Comics) – $4.99

A mysterious string of crimes pulls Bruce deep into a psychological cat-and-mouse game. With whispers of a major villain reveal or twist tied to Gotham’s criminal underbelly, this issue is one of the most hyped of the week. Recent Batman arcs have been setting up bigger payoffs—this one could be a turning point.

👑 Absolute Wonder Woman #7 (DC Comics) – $4.99

Diana continues her battle to restore the fractured legacy of the Amazons, but new mythological forces rise to challenge her path. This series has delivered consistent storytelling, gorgeous visuals, and a slow build toward what feels like a pivotal conflict between the divine and mortal realms. A must for fans of epic fantasy.

👽 Absolute Martian Manhunter #2 (DC Comics) – $4.99

The mystery around J’onn J’onzz deepens in this second issue as he navigates a web of lost memories and an Earth that fears what it doesn’t understand. With strong sci-fi noir vibes, this series is shaping up to be a sleeper hit. Issue #2 could feature new elements of Martian lore—making it one to watch.

🦸‍♂️ Superman #25 (DC Comics) – $5.99

An oversized issue that celebrates Kal-El’s legacy while teasing what could be a seismic shift in his place in the DC Universe. Rumors suggest new cosmic threats, possible leadership changes, and a twist that could impact the Justice League as a whole. Long-time collectors might want to secure this one early.

❌ X-Men #15 (Marvel Comics) – $4.99

The Fall of X saga continues to fracture alliances within the mutant nation. As the walls close in on Krakoa, tensions reach a boiling point, with one core X-Man reportedly making a massive, morally gray decision. With the current era nearing its end, these final issues are heating up with spec potential.

🙏 Until Next Week...

That’s a wrap on another stacked week in the world of collecting—both digital and physical. Whether you’re here to hunt grails, track NFT heat, or just stay ahead of what’s dropping next, we’re grateful to have you riding with us.

🧠 Remember: The more informed you are, the sharper your next flip, trade, or long-term hold becomes. That’s the mission.

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Thanks for reading. Thanks for sharing. And as always—
Collect smart. Collect often. Nerd out.

– The Nerdcave77 Team 🛸