BEYBLADE X Frenzy Fuels Crypto-Like Toy Market

TAKARA TOMY launched BEYBLADE X, the fourth generation of its battling-top franchise, in Japan on July 15, 2023, introducing a faster competitive system that helped revive interest among players and collectors. Demand later spread to Taiwan, where scarce parts and tournament-ready combinations gained value beyond ordinary toy use, creating a speculative resale market with features increasingly associated with financial assets.

Recent buying frenzies in Taiwan and Japan have left customers queuing for hours without securing popular models. One sought-after top, nicknamed “God Rod” by local players, reportedly climbed from NT$295 at retail to about NT$2,500 on the secondary market, a gain of more than sevenfold. The report likened product development, private resales and player-driven exchanges to crypto projects, over-the-counter trading and decentralized-exchange liquidity.