Trading Cards Have a Trust Problem. CTCA Wants to Build the Standards to Fix It

Independent trade association responds to growing industry risks with breaker certification, trusted business credentials and a global trading card registry

WENTZVILLE, Mo., Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- As the multi-billion-dollar trading card industry continues to grow, new forms of buying and selling, including digital repacks and randomized products with limited transparency around sourcing, odds and value, are raising new questions around consumer protection, accountability and trust.

The Certified Trading Card Association (CTCA), an independent nonprofit trade organization founded by lifelong collector and entrepreneur Nick Jarman, is working to address those gaps through independent standards, education, certification and consumer-protection programs. Its initiatives include the Certified Breaker Program, Global Trading Card Registry and Trusted Retailer program.

Founded as the first and only 501(c)(6) nonprofit national trade association for the trading card industry, CTCA is supported by an advisory board of more than 15 industry executives and a rapidly growing network of over 100 partners, including StockX, Arena Club, Fanatics, Leaf, Dave & Adam's, Trove and Cards HQ.

Drawing on nearly three decades of leadership experience, Jarman has built CTCA into a growing coalition focused on establishing independent standards and stronger trust across platforms, marketplaces and businesses, with much of that growth occurring in just the past few months.

"The hobby has grown faster than the standards and infrastructure supporting it," said Nick Jarman, Founder and CEO of CTCA. "I've spent my life around this industry, and I kept seeing the same problem: collectors and responsible businesses needed stronger independent systems they could trust. CTCA was created to help build those systems across the entire hobby."

Certified Breaker Program

The Certified Breaker Program sets professional standards for individual breakers through background screening, education and an examination. Unlike platform-specific policies, the certification follows the breaker across platforms, creating greater accountability and giving collectors added confidence in who they buy from.

Global Trading Card Registry (GTCR)

The Global Trading Card Registry (GTCR) is a free verification system that helps collectors check the history and status of graded cards, including whether they've been reported lost or stolen, adding greater transparency and due diligence to transactions.

Trusted Credential Programs

CTCA's Trusted Retailer program is live now, with Trusted Seller and Trusted Show planned for Q1 2027, expanding verification across the hobby and helping collectors identify businesses and events that meet defined standards for trust and accountability.

To learn more about CTCA, visit www.thectca.org.

About the Certified Trading Card Association

The Certified Trading Card Association (CTCA) is an independent nonprofit trade association focused on strengthening the trading card industry through standards, education, certification, consumer protection and collaboration. CTCA works across the hobby to promote greater transparency, accountability and trust.

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SOURCE Certified Trading Card Association (CTCA)