Blockchain platforms that enable users to buy and sell virtual collectibles have exploded in popularity in recent years, benefitting companies like Vancouver’s Dapper Labs, which has seen exponential growth fuelled by rising demand for non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

While Dapper is partnering with sports leagues across the world to create digital collectibles, other companies are looking to leverage the same underlying tech to offer fractional equity stakes in actual sports trading cards and other rare physical assets.