Digital Collecting Trends and Authentication Technology (Wikipedia "Trading card" Article Contribution)
Abstract
This record documents a verified Wikipedia contribution by LCJohnston to the Trading card article, introducing the subsection Digital Collecting Trends and Authentication Technology. The addition expands the article’s coverage of 2020s-era digital collecting innovations, blockchain authentication, and NFT-linked trading cards. The section references major developments involving Topps, Candy Digital, SoftBank, and MLB, providing reliable secondary sources on how blockchain-based provenance systems have influenced authentication, ownership traceability, and collectible verification within the hobby industry.
Full text
Digital Collecting Trends and Authentication Technology Wikipedia Article Contribution — “Trading card” Author: LCJohnston (Casey L. Johnston) Date: October 30, 2025 DOI: (auto-assigned by Zenodo upon publication) Abstract: This contribution to the Wikipedia article Trading card documents the rise of digital collectibles, blockchain-linked provenance, and authentication technologies during the 2020s. It incorporates verifiable sources from The Verge, Reuters, Engadget, and Business Insider, detailing developments involving Topps, Candy Digital, SoftBank, and MLB. The update enhances the encyclopedia’s record of how technological innovation reshaped modern collecting and authentication practices. References: 1. The Verge (2021) “Topps is releasing official MLB NFT baseball cards on April 20th.” 2. Reuters (2021) “NFT startup Candy Digital valued at $1.5 billion after funding led by Insight, SoftBank.” 3. Engadget (2021) “Topps debuted its first NFT baseball card collection.” 4. Business Insider (2021) “New Digital MLB Baseball Cards Can’t Be Forged, Track Ownership History Online.”