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The Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) Vault for trading cards officially launched Monday afternoon, following PSA's acquisition of eBay’s card vault in April, with the deal closing in May. This strategic move aims to streamline the grading-to-selling process for trading card collectors.

The PSA Vault allows collectors to submit cards for grading and then choose to list them on eBay, keep them in the PSA Vault, or have them returned for their personal collection. PSA President Ryan Hoge highlighted that this new process reduces the number of people handling the cards and minimizes shipping times, with PSA managing the shipping from the vault to the buyer.

“With a single click, once you have your grades available, the cards are automatically listed on eBay. Once sold and paid for, funds appear in your checking account within days,” Hoge explained. “This eliminates the hassle of shipping the item out.”

Collectors can manage their digital collection and decide on their next steps via PSA’s app. This digital interface has proven valuable for collectors who frequently trade cards, offering a seamless experience where ownership can be reassigned without the need for physical shipping if the card is already in the vault.

The PSA Vault does not charge a holding fee, though there is a $5 withdrawal fee if a card is removed before 90 days. The physical vaults for PSA and eBay are located in Delaware.

Prior to integrating with eBay, cards in the PSA Vault could be listed on Goldin Auctions. However, eBay’s larger active buyer base, particularly for lower-priced cards, provides a better platform for sellers. “Cards worth under $500 make up the majority of what we’re grading,” Hoge noted. “eBay is far and away the best place to sell those.”

Collectors Holdings, which owned Goldin Auctions before its acquisition by PSA, is owned by Mets owner Steve Cohen, venture capitalist Nat Turner, and hedge fund billionaire Dan Sundheim. Collectors Holdings acquired Goldin Auctions in 2021.

The launch of the PSA Vault marks a significant advancement in simplifying the trading card market, offering collectors an efficient and streamlined process from grading to selling.