From schoolyard trades to blockchain-backed collectibles — the journey that sparked CertifiQ.
In the early 90s, I was just a kid trading hockey cards, Marvel cards, and comics on the playground. I'd sprint into our neighborhood convenience store any time my dad stopped for gas — just to check if new sticker packs or hockey cards were in stock.
Opening those wax packs, chewing that stale pink gum for five good minutes, and organizing cards in my binder was everything. My friends and I tracked our favorite stars, swapped duplicates, and bonded over every trade. It wasn’t about money — it was about pride, passion, and connection.
Like most kids, we brought our prized cards to school. One day, a classmate asked to trade for my Brett Hull rookie card. He offered me three other Brett Hulls in return — and in Grade 5, I figured three was better than one.
After the trade, a close friend of mine told me the real reason he wanted it — it was worth $100. At the time, it felt like I’d given away a winning lottery ticket. That moment stuck with me. It taught me the value of trust, transparency, and proof in the collecting world.
Years later, I started playing Pokémon Go with my kids and my girlfriend’s kids — just a fun way to bond. Eventually, the kids moved on, but I kept playing. That sparked my return to trading cards.
We started collecting again — building sets, telling stories, sharing excitement. That reignited something in me. I wanted to protect the cards, show them off with pride, and create something lasting. That spark became CertifiQ Collectibles.
I wanted a way to display my collectibles like art and protect them like heirlooms. That evolved into creating premium display cases and, eventually, Digital Ownership Certificates — living documents that tell the full story of a collectible's past, present, and future.
As the ideas kept coming, I realized this went far beyond cards. It was about bridging physical and digital — securing ownership, documenting provenance, and celebrating the emotional value behind every collectible. Whether it’s cards, comics, or fine art, we all want to show the world what we have — and share the stories behind them.
