Photo: U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kyle Gese, via Wikipedia
Most of us probably know a 11-year-old who blew their whole allowance on a pack of Pokemon cards back in the day… but blowing stacks of cash on Pokemon cards isn’t just for pre-teens anymore.
In recent years, fractional investment — which enables numerous investors to buy a stake in the same asset — has become more popular.
Several startups offer marketplaces that allow people to invest a few bucks in partial ownership of everything from Star Wars collectibles to sneakers.
Alternative asset marketplaces are growing fast
Last week, one startup called Mythic Markets raised $2m to expand its marketplace for rare collectibles (for just $45, investors can purchase a piece of a Magic: The Gathering card that’s worth $90k).
But Mythic Markets is just one of several startups specializing in fractional ownership of collectibles.
A startup called Otis offers investments in museums, albums, sneakers, and comic books starting at just $25, and other startups offer fractional ownership of everything from cars to homes.
So, are these investments as risky as they seem?
Actually, no: Mythic Markets, Otis, and most fractional investment startups only offer securities that are backed by the SEC — and the SEC backs comic books, sci-fi trinkets, and even e-sports teams.
If you’re wondering where in the name of Charizard fractional investing came from: It all started with vacation-style timeshares…
Maybe you and your Uncle Jerry are pretty similar, after all.