PSA is Done Grading Funko Pops

PSA just dropped some news that has the Funko community buzzing. The gold standard in collectibles grading announced Monday they’re discontinuing Funko Pop grading services effective December 1st, 2025. This feels bigger than just another company cutting a service line.

It’s official. PSA is done grading Funko Pops.

The move comes as Funko itself is hemorrhaging money. We’re talking a $41 million loss in Q2 2025 alone, bringing their total losses to $61 million for the first half of the year, according to the Everett Herald. The company hasn’t turned a profit since Q2 2024, and they’ve already cycled through two CEOs this year. When the manufacturer can’t keep the lights on, the ecosystem around it starts to shake.

PSA’s been grading Funko Pops for a few years now, bringing that same card-grading authority to vinyl figures. They grade on a 1-10 scale based on box condition, slap them in UV-resistant tamper-evident cases, and collectors could finally prove their mint condition grails were actually mint condition grails. For $40-50 per Pop, you got authentication and a grade that supposedly added serious value.

But here’s where it gets interesting for resellers. Graded Funko Pops always had a mixed reception. The card and comic collectors who came over loved it. The OG Funko collectors? Not so much. Many felt the grading was subjective, the cases were bulky, and PSA only graded the box anyway without really authenticating the figure itself. Some collectors straight-up called them “junk slabs” waiting to happen.

Here’s the million-dollar question: do PSA-graded Funkos become more valuable now that no more will be made?

In theory, yes. Basic supply and demand says limited supply should increase value. PSA 10 Gem Mint grails were already selling for 2-3X their ungraded counterparts on eBay. A Batman Patina SDCC exclusive sold for $825 graded when ungraded versions were going for $750-785. High-grade Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and rare exclusive Funkos in PSA 10 slabs commanded serious premiums.

But there’s a catch. The Funko grading market never reached the maturity of cards or comics (perhaps obviously). Many collectors viewed graded Pops as overpriced curiosities rather than smart investments. The community forums are full of collectors saying they prefer $15 Pop Armor protectors to $50 grading fees. And PSA’s own cases got mixed reviews compared to competitors like VVGS, with complaints about cheap plastic and poor stackability.

So will PSA graded Funkos appreciate? For true grails and rare exclusives that scored PSA 9 or 10, probably. For common Pops that someone paid to grade hoping to flip at 5X? Those might actually be worth less than the grading fee cost.

PSA isn’t the only game in town, and resellers still have options:

The VVGS (Vinyl Vault Grading System) has been grading Funkos longer than PSA. They use similar 1-10 grading but with better cases according to many collectors. The acrylic capsules are sturdier, fully transparent on all six sides, and include QR codes linking to authentication pages. VVGS tends to be more popular with hardcore Funko collectors who prioritized display over the PSA name recognition.

CGC announced plans to start grading Funko Pops. They’re massive in comics with trust comparable to PSA in cards. If CGC launches their Funko grading service with the same standards they use for comics, they could immediately become the new standard. The question is timing and whether they’ll actually follow through.

PGS (Pop Grading Service) exists but has much less market presence. Without PSA’s reputation or VVGS’s track record, it’s unclear if they’ll gain traction.

The smart money says VVGS likely benefits most from PSA’s exit in the short term, while CGC could dominate if they execute well.

If you have high-value Funkos you were planning to grade, you’ve got until December 1st to submit to PSA. But should you?

For autographed Funkos, yes. PSA will still authenticate signatures using their blue label system, and that remains valuable for protecting against fakes and proving provenance. Convention-signed Pops from deceased celebrities or rare signings should absolutely get authenticated before December 1st.

For non-signed Funkos, it depends. True grails worth $200+ ungraded might be worth grading if you believe PSA’s exit creates scarcity value. But here’s the thing: most collectors aren’t convinced grading adds enough value to justify the cost, especially for Funkos that retail under $100. You’re gambling that being among the last PSA-graded Funkos matters more than the community’s general skepticism about grading.

Some resellers are instead shifting to VVGS or waiting to see CGC’s offering. Others are just sticking with Pop Armor protectors and calling it a day. The Funko market has survived without grading for most of its existence, and plenty of collectors prefer accessibility over slabbed authenticity.

PSA’s exit isn’t just about grading services. It’s a symptom of Funko’s broader struggles. When the manufacturer is losing tens of millions per quarter, cycling through CEOs, and citing trade policy uncertainty, the entire collectibles ecosystem around their products gets shaky.

Resellers need to consider: if Funko’s financial troubles continue, how does that affect long-term demand? Are Funkos still a smart flip in 2026 and beyond, or is this a category starting to brick?

The answer probably depends on the specific Pop. Limited exclusives, vaulted pieces, and popular licenses like Pokemon, Marvel, and Disney will likely hold value. Generic releases and oversaturated lines? Those were always risky flips, and Funko’s troubles just add more risk.

For collectors with already-graded PSA Funkos, especially PSA 9 and 10 grails, this could work in your favor. Limited supply should create upward price pressure over time. But the market needs to actually want graded Funkos for that to matter, and the jury’s still out.

For resellers deciding whether to grade before December 1st, focus on high-value pieces where authentication matters and grading could genuinely add 50%+ to the value. Autographed Pops are no-brainers. Everything else is a judgment call.

And for everyone else? Maybe this is just the market saying Funkos don’t need to be graded like cards. Sometimes a collectible is better off staying accessible and fun rather than locked in a plastic tomb with a number on it.