Pokemon TCG Pocket Trade Feature Overhaul Launches July 29th
The Pokémon Company has officially announced that the long-awaited update to Pokemon TCG Pocket’s trade feature will be released on July 29, 2025, addressing widespread criticism of the app’s original trading system.
To prepare for the update, the current trade feature will be temporarily disabled from July 24th to July 29th.
What’s Changing in the Update?
The revised trade system introduces major quality-of-life improvements, particularly designed to make trading smoother, more transparent, and fairer for players.
Here’s a breakdown of the key changes:
Wishlist Feature Introduced
Players can now clearly communicate what they want in trades.
- You can add up to 20 cards to your wishlist via the “My Cards” screen.
- 3 of your wishlisted cards can be displayed on your profile for others to see, making targeted trades easier than ever.
Trade Tokens Removed, Shinedust Replaces Them
One of the most requested changes — trade tokens will be retired. Instead, shinedust will be the new trade currency for high-rarity cards.
- You’ll no longer need to sacrifice other cards to trade.
- Trading ♦♦♦, ♦♦♦♦, and ★ rarity cards will require shinedust instead.
- When you pull a duplicate card already in your Card Dex, you’ll now receive double the shinedust compared to the current system.
Exchange Options for Old Trade Tokens
Got leftover trade tokens? You can now convert them into other valuable resources:
| Exchange Option | Required Tokens | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Pack Hourglass ×1 | 1 Token | Max 60 |
| Shinedust ×10 | 1 Token | Unlimited |
| Shinedust ×100 | 10 Tokens | Unlimited |
| Shinedust ×1,000 | 100 Tokens | Unlimited |
These exchanges will be available in the in-game Shop.
Why This Matters
Pokemon TCG Pocket’s original trading system faced backlash for being overly restrictive and confusing, especially with the need to consume cards and use tokens. This overhaul — particularly the shift to shinedust and the wishlist system — is seen as a major step forward in making trading feel rewarding and user-friendly.
