Over the past twelve months, alternative asset classes like collectible trading cards have actually outpaced cryptocurrency returns for many investors. The contrast is striking—while crypto markets have experienced typical volatility and consolidation cycles, the collectibles sector has maintained steady appreciation in certain segments. This divergence raises interesting questions about portfolio diversification beyond traditional digital assets. Whether it's a temporary market anomaly or signals a broader shift in where retail capital flows remains worth tracking. The takeaway: in 2024-2025, not all wealth creation happened on-chain.