Coinbase Teases Phone-Based Pokémon Packs Backed by Real Cards

Coinbase has teased a service that would let users open Pokémon card packs on their phones, with each digital pull backed by a physical card that customers could keep in storage or have shipped to them. The company’s September 28 announcement outlined the concept but did not provide launch terms or explain how the service would work in detail. Coinbase said users would be able to open packs digitally, then choose to vault the card or request delivery. In replies to users who described the product as Pokémon packs on-chain, the company responded, “you get it.” That exchange suggests a possible connection to blockchain technology, but Coinbase has not specified whether the product will use a blockchain or how ownership would be recorded. The company has not disclosed a launch date, pack prices, pull probabilities, storage or shipping costs, or which countries will be supported. It also has not said whether customers will be able to trade or resell cards through the service, how cards will be authenticated or held, or whether specific cards will be identified before a pack is opened.