Based Trading Cards

What Based Trading Cards does

Based Trading Cards (BTCTC) is a privately held Bitcoin-themed trading card company founded in 2022 by Alladan and operating from California, USA. The company designs, manufactures, and sells physical collectible trading cards and accessories that combine trading card hobby mechanics with Bitcoin cultural content. Its product portfolio spans the flagship "Orange Pill in a Pack" (OPP) series (Series 1-4), the Genesis educational collection, the Spirit of Satoshi collaborative collection with a Bitcoin-centric AI project, and limited edition accessories including breaker mats, card binders, apparel combos, and FiGPiN collectibles. The Series 4: The Simulation release won the Golden Leaf Award for trading card industry innovation.

The company's technology stack centers on premium physical card production featuring 15-layer print embellishments, serialized chase cards, and industry-first features such as temperature-changing thermochromic inks, glow-in-the-dark designs, and 1/1 printing plates included in every hobby box. Commerce is operated through a Shopify storefront with BTCPay Server integration enabling direct Bitcoin and USDC payments, and the company operates its own secondary marketplace with cards accepted for grading by PSA, BGS, SGC, CGC, and TAG. Distribution is direct-to-consumer only with worldwide shipping from a Northern California fulfillment center, and no third-party retailers are used.

Revenue is generated primarily through one-time purchases of cards and accessories, with prices ranging from $25 educational Genesis packs to $24,000 premium Whale bundles. The company targets three primary customer segments: Bitcoin trading card collectors, Bitcoin education advocates who use cards as onboarding tools, and hobby investors who treat premium cards as alternative physical assets. The company is bootstrapped with no external institutional funding, ships globally, and has built a 4,000+ member community on Telegram plus an active Reddit subreddit, with secondary market liquidity across six-plus platforms.

Name

Based Trading Cards

Legal name

Based Trading Cards LLC

Website

https://basedtradingcards.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Based Trading Cards designs and sells Bitcoin-themed physical collectible trading cards and accessories through a direct-to-consumer Shopify store. Founded in 2022, the bootstrapped company serves Bitcoin collectors, educators, and hobby investors with limited print-run series.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Collectible Trading Cards

NAICS

Hobby, Toy, and Game Retailers (45912), Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, Book, and Miscellaneous Retailers (459)

SIC

Retail-Hobby, Toy & Game Shops (5945)

akta.pro primary industry

Sports Trading Cards Retail (CRALAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Collectibles & Trading Cards Distribution (CRAOAMAC)

Keywords

• Bitcoin trading cards
• Limited edition collectibles
• Hobby box releases
• Card accessories merchandise
• Secondary card marketplace

Headquarters

HQ city

Sacramento

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Trading Card Product Sales: Core revenue from selling trading card packs, hobby boxes, cases, and Experience Boxes. Products range from single packs ($49.99) to premium multi-box bundles ($24,000). Revenue is entirely one-time purchase; no subscription component.
2. Collectibles & Accessories: Sale of breaker mats, card binders, FigPins, stickers, posters, and other collector accessories. Limited edition items with very small print runs (e.g., 50 breaker mats, 121 binders). One-time purchase model.
3. 21 Club Merchandise: Premium apparel-merch combos (jerseys, hats) paired with limited edition trading cards. Ultra-low print runs (21 units for jersey+card combos). Merch items co-designed with partners (HodlersOfficial.com, BTCPINS).
4. Secondary Market Facilitation: Company-operated secondary marketplace for buying, selling, and trading cards. Cards can also be graded by PSA, BGS, SGC, CGC, and TAG. Platform takes transaction fees from secondary sales.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels13 records

Core offering

Based Trading Cards designs, produces, and sells premium Bitcoin-themed physical trading card series (Orange Pill in a Pack Series 1–4, Genesis, Spirit of Satoshi) with strictly limited and transparently disclosed print runs. Products include sealed packs, hobby boxes, cases, premium Experience Boxes with sweepstakes entry, branded accessories (breaker mats, binders, pins, stickers), and apparel-merch combos, all sold direct-to-consumer through a Shopify storefront with Bitcoin/USDC and fiat payment options.

Product overview

Based Trading Cards is a Bitcoin-themed trading card company offering a portfolio of collectible card series and accessories. The core product lineup spans five main trading card series (Genesis, OPP S1-S4) plus the Spirit of Satoshi Collaborative collection, each featuring limited print runs with base cards, parallel rarities, and chase cards including 1/1s. The product ecosystem includes sealed packs and hobby boxes (primary purchase format), premium Experience Boxes (bundled with collector toolkits and sweepstakes entry), apparel/merch combos (21 Club jerseys and hats), accessories (breaker mats, card binders, pins, stickers), and a secondary market service. Key differentiators include verifiable scarcity (print runs stamped on cards), groundbreaking print technology (thermochromic inks, glow-in-the-dark), Bitcoin education integration, and sweepstakes mechanics (Golden Key with real prizes). The company accepts Bitcoin and USDC payments alongside conventional options.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Orange Pill in a Pack (OPP): The flagship series brand for Bitcoin Trading Cards, representing the main product line including Series 1, 2, 3, and 4.
• Spirit of Satoshi
• 21 Club
• Genesis

Products and services

• OPP Series 4 - The Simulation Trading Cards Sealed packs and hobby boxes of the flagship Bitcoin trading card series featuring guaranteed serialized chase cards in every pack, interactive thermochromic and glow-in-the-dark inks, and verifiable scarcity. Sold to individual collectors and hobby investors.
• Series 4 Experience Box Premium collector bundle containing a full Series 4 hobby box plus exclusive collectibles, Golden Key sweepstakes entry, and accompanying accessories, limited to 420 boxes worldwide. Targeted at premium individual collectors and investors.
• OPP Series 3 - Warriors vs Villains Trading Cards Sealed packs, hobby boxes, and cases of the third OPP Bitcoin trading card series with 18 Refractors and 8 chase categories. Cases carry a 94-96% chance of hitting a /21 Club card. Sold to individual collectors and hobby investors.
• Spirit of Satoshi Collaborative Trading Cards Collaborative Matrix-themed Bitcoin trading card release in partnership with Spirit of Satoshi, combining Bitcoin lore with Bitcoin-AI education themes. Limited to 5,005 packs across 417 hobby boxes. Sold to collectors interested in Bitcoin and emerging tech crossover.
• Genesis Educational Packs Educational no-chase Bitcoin trading card packs intended for gifting and onboarding newcomers. Available individually, in multi-packs, and in boxes of 100. Targeted at Bitcoin advocates who use cards as conversation starters and educational gifts.
• OPP Series 1 - Orange Pill In A Pack Trading Cards Inaugural Orange Pill in a Pack trading card series that established the BTCTC collectible lineup. Includes PSA-graded cards featuring foundational Bitcoin figures and concepts. Sold to individual collectors building the core set.
• FUD Busters Breaker Mat Premium 14x24 inch fabric breaker mat featuring FUD Busters artwork, designed for pack breaks and card sorting. Limited to 50 units. Sold to collectors and breakers.
• XL BTCTC Logo Breaker Mat Premium 16x36 inch XL breaker mat featuring the BTCTC golden logo, designed for pack-breaking and display. Limited to 50 units. Sold to collectors and breakers.
• /121 Limited Edition Custom Series 1 Card Binder Holographic foil printed card binder for the OPP Series 1 collection, featuring cold-foil stamped /121 numbering and a series map. Sold to collectors completing the Series 1 base set.
• 21 Club Team BTC Jersey + Card Merch Combo Limited edition /21 apparel bundle pairing a Team BTC jersey with matching numbered trading cards, commemorative Nashville 2024 cards, hat pins, and stickers. Co-designed with HodlersOfficial.com and BTCPINS. Sold to apparel-collecting fans.
• 21 Club Tip Of The Hat Hat + Card Merch Combo Limited edition /21 handmade hat bundle pairing an 11 curved/10 flat bill hat with matching numbered trading cards, hat pin, BTCTC pin set, foil-embossed box, and Certificate of Authenticity. Sold to apparel-collecting fans.
• FiGPiN Satoshi Nakamoto Collectible Pin Limited edition (1,200 pieces) zinc alloy collectible pin featuring Satoshi Nakamoto based on the Newsweek 'Bitcoin's Face' cover, with museum-quality display case. Produced with Figpin, Collect&Hodl, and Newsweek. Sold to collectors of Bitcoin cultural memorabilia.
• Pacific Bitcoin 2023 Whale Packs Limited commemorative release of 1,210 packs tied to the Pacific Bitcoin 2023 conference, featuring artwork from top Bitcoin artists and multiple holo foil chase tiers. Sold to attendees and collectors seeking event-exclusive cards.
• Halving Edition Whale Sticker Pack Limited edition (300 packs) sticker pack featuring 8 Halving-themed and BTCTC-branded die-cut and holographic stickers. Sold to collectors and fans seeking low-cost branded merchandise.
• BTCTC Gift Cards

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 50% chance to hit Orange Parallel (/210) or better in every Series 4 pack
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Spirit of SatoshicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024First-of-its-kind Collaborative Series partnership. Spirit of Satoshi is developing the first Bitcoin-centric AI language model. BTCTC created the Spirit of Satoshi trading card set featuring 13 unique holofoil chase cards, with only 5,005 packs produced. The collaboration combines Bitcoin art with AI education themes and Matrix-inspired aesthetics. Only 417 hobby boxes produced worldwide.
• BTCPay ServercoreTechnology or IntegrationOpen-source Bitcoin payment processor integrated directly into the BTCTC e-commerce checkout. Enables direct Bitcoin and USDC payments with no third-party conversion or extra fees. Fully aligned with brand ethos of Bitcoin-native payments.
• HodlersOfficial.comminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-designed and manufactured the 'Team BTC' limited edition baseball jersey (only 21 produced) featured as part of the 21 Club Merch Combo. Each jersey is paired with a numbered /21 trading card.
• BTCPINSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduced limited edition hat pin sets (LE /121) included in 21 Club merch combos. Collaborated on the 'Tip of the Hat' combo featuring handmade hats paired with numbered trading cards and pins.
• Figpin / Collect&HodlminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-produced the FiGPiN Satoshi Nakamoto collectible pin (LE 1,200 pcs). Inspired by iconic Newsweek cover 'Bitcoin's Face.' Zinc alloy with hard synthetic color enamel, electroplated nickel coating. Newsweek licensed.
• NewsweekminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerLicensed the iconic 'Bitcoin's Face' Newsweek cover imagery for use on the FiGPiN Satoshi Nakamoto collectible pin. Enables use of recognizable cultural imagery in physical collectible format.
• PSA (Professional Sports Authenticators)minorOthersCards are fully recognized and accepted for grading by PSA, Beckett (BGS), SGC, CGC, and TAG. Graded cards command premium prices in secondary market. Card quality described as comparable to top sports card grades (PSA 9, PSA 10 examples shown on website).
• ShopifycoreTechnology or IntegrationE-commerce platform powering the direct-to-consumer storefront. Handles product catalog, checkout, payment processing (except crypto), shipping, and order management. Enables Shop Pay installments for customers.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Upper Deck: Upper Deck manufactures authenticated sports and entertainment trading cards with proprietary anti-counterfeit technology. Its emphasis on premium print quality and grading-aligned scarcity parallels BTCTC's verifiable scarcity and PSA/BGS grading acceptance.
• Wizards of the Coast (Magic: The Gathering): Wizards of the Coast's Magic: The Gathering is the dominant trading card game franchise with strong secondary market and limited print runs. It is the canonical benchmark for serialized chase cards, sealed-box economics, and community-led engagement that BTCTC's model mirrors.
• Funko: Funko is a mass-market pop culture collectibles manufacturer spanning figures, pins, and apparel. Its Figpin line directly partners with BTCTC, and its strategy of licensing IP for collectibles parallels BTCTC's licensed use of the Newsweek Satoshi imagery.
• Topps: Topps is a legacy mass-market trading card manufacturer spanning sports, entertainment, and Garbage Pail Kids. It demonstrates the scale ceiling for trading card brands and represents a potential acquirer or strategic competitor if it entered the Bitcoin card category.
• The Pokémon Company: The Pokémon TCG is one of the largest trading card franchises globally with deep collector engagement across age groups. It illustrates both the consumer-brand crossover potential and the scale gap that a niche cultural franchise like BTCTC faces.
• Panini America: Panini is one of the largest global trading card manufacturers with NFL, NBA, and FIFA licenses. It sets industry standards for premium print embellishments, chase card mechanics, and sealed-box distribution that BTCTC's Series 4 explicitly benchmarks against.
• Konami (Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG): Konami's Yu-Gi-Oh! is a global trading card game with secondary market depth and serialized chase rarities. It exemplifies the long-term franchise economics BTCTC is attempting to replicate within a much smaller, more niche community.

Direct peers

• Cryptozoic Entertainment: Cryptozoic produces premium collectible trading cards and tabletop games tied to entertainment IP (DC, Marvel, Lord of the Rings). It is the closest analog in niche, IP-driven trading card manufacturing and parallels BTCTC's strategy of building a content-rich card line around a cultural niche.

Emerging players

• VeeFriends: VeeFriends is Gary Vaynerchuk's IP-driven collectibles and character brand with limited drops, community emphasis, and cultural cachet. It shares BTCTC's reliance on founder narrative, scarcity, and a culturally-defined core audience rather than mass-market distribution.
• Ravensburger (Disney Lorcana): Ravensburger's Disney Lorcana is an emerging trading card game competing against established TCGs. It represents the playbook of a traditional non-card company launching a new TCG franchise and is relevant to understanding BTCTC's category-creation strategy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/btc_cards
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@BasedTradingCards
• Facebookfacebook.com/people/Based-Trading-Cards/61577693592488
• Instagraminstagram.com/basedcards
• TikToktiktok.com/@basedtcards
• Pinterestpinterest.com/BasedCards
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alladan-flinn-2a8366237

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Based Trading Cards