WENTZVILLE, Mo. - iSportsWire -- The Certified Trading Card Association (CTCA), the nation's first and only non-profit trade association dedicated exclusively to the trading card industry, today announced the launch of the Global Trading Card Registry (GTCR) at https://www.thegtcr.com — the first and only tracking system created specifically to help identify and monitor stolen graded trading cards.

The launch comes at a pivotal moment for the hobby as theft involving trading cards continues to rise across the United States and internationally. In recent years, collectors, local card shops, card shows, and businesses have increasingly become targets of burglaries, armed robberies, mail theft, smash-and-grab incidents, and organized criminal activity involving high-value collectibles.

Despite the growing threat, the hobby has lacked a centralized, publicly accessible system to help determine whether a graded card has been reported stolen.

GTCR seeks to change that.

Through the platform, collectors, dealers, marketplaces, grading companies, auction houses, insurers, and law enforcement can search a graded card's certification number to determine whether it has been reported stolen, completely free of charge.

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"Card theft is no longer an isolated problem in this hobby — it is becoming an industry-wide challenge," said Nick Jarman, Founder & CEO of the Certified Trading Card Association. "For too long, there has been no centralized system to help protect collectors and businesses when stolen graded cards re-enter the marketplace. The Global Trading Card Registry is about creating accountability, transparency, and another layer of protection for the entire hobby."

By leveraging grading certification numbers already assigned to professionally graded cards, GTCR creates an additional safeguard designed to make it more difficult for stolen collectibles to quietly circulate through the secondary market.

The initiative represents CTCA's latest contribution to hobby infrastructure and collector protection, reinforcing the organization's mission to create a safer, smarter, and stronger trading card ecosystem.

"We talk a lot about trust in the hobby, but trust requires systems," Jarman added. "The hobby needs infrastructure that helps legitimate collectors and businesses operate with confidence. GTCR is a practical solution designed to support that mission."

The registry is intended to support all sectors of the hobby, including collectors, hobby shops, breakers, marketplaces, grading companies, auction houses, insurers, event organizers, and law enforcement agencies investigating theft-related incidents.

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As trading cards continue evolving into valuable alternative assets, with many graded cards worth thousands, tens of thousands, or more, CTCA believes proactive solutions are needed to help preserve confidence and integrity within the marketplace.

The Global Trading Card Registry is now live and available to the public.

To search or report a stolen graded card, visit www.thegtcr.com.

About the Certified Trading Card Association (CTCA)

The Certified Trading Card Association (CTCA) is the first and only trade association dedicated exclusively to the trading card industry. As a 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization, CTCA works to strengthen the hobby through standards, transparency, education, advocacy, and industry collaboration to create a safer and more trusted future for collectors and businesses.

Learn more at www.thectca.org.

Media Contact:
Nick Jarman
Founder & CEO, Certified Trading Card Association (CTCA)
nick@thectca.org