The 5 Most Expensive Steam Trading Cards That Sold For Shocking Prices (Updated 2025)

The Steam Trading Card ecosystem is far more lucrative than most gamers realize, transforming what seem like simple digital collectibles into assets worth thousands of dollars. As of December 2025, the market continues to be driven by extreme scarcity, primarily involving rare "Foil" cards and items tied to games that have been removed—or "delisted"—from the Steam store. This volatility has created a fascinating sub-economy where a single virtual card can be worth more than a high-end gaming PC.

The highest prices are rarely the common 5-cent drops; instead, the real "whales" are ultra-rare items like the infamous Li Chengsong (Foil) card, which has been listed and reportedly sold for prices approaching the $2,000 mark. Understanding the value of these digital treasures requires looking beyond the typical Booster Packs and delving into the niche world of delisted games, Foil Cards, and the unforgiving mechanics of the Steam Community Market.

The Rarest Digital Assets: Profiles of the Most Expensive Steam Trading Cards

The true value of a Steam Trading Card is almost always a direct result of its scarcity. This scarcity is created either by the card being a rare Foil variant or, more commonly, because the source game has been delisted from the Steam store. When a game is removed, no new cards can ever be generated, freezing the supply and causing the price to skyrocket for collectors focused on Badge Crafting and completing their sets.

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Here are the profiles of the cards and their source games that command the highest prices on the market:

• Li Chengsong (Foil)

Source Game: Chaos Galaxy

Approximate Value: Listed for up to $1,898.36 (Historical High)

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This card is widely cited as one of the most expensive single cards ever listed on the Steam Community Market. The game, Chaos Galaxy, an indie strategy title, had an extremely limited player base and card drop rate. The combination of the base game's obscurity and the ultra-rare Foil designation made the Li Chengsong card a legendary collectible. Its high price is a testament to its near-zero market supply.

• Moai Head (Regular)

Source Game: Platinum Kill

Approximate Value: $75 - $100+

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Unlike most high-value cards, the Moai Head is often a *Regular* (non-Foil) card. It originates from the game Platinum Kill. The card's high price is primarily driven by its low drop rate and high demand from collectors. It’s a prime example of a non-Foil card reaching premium prices due to pure scarcity and high buy orders from dedicated collectors who want to complete the Badge Set.

• Gaomon (Foil)

Source Game: Digimon Masters (or related titles)

Approximate Value: $60 - $70+

The Gaomon card, featuring the popular monster from the Digimon Masters franchise, is a highly sought-after Foil card. Its value remains consistently high due to the popularity of the IP and the inherent rarity of the Foil variant. The card often has few, if any, active listings on the market, forcing buyers to place high buy orders to acquire it.

• Cards from Cherry Tree High Comedy Club

Source Game: Cherry Tree High Comedy Club

Approximate Value: $1 - $2+ per card (High for a full set)

While individual cards aren't in the hundreds of dollars, the entire 10-card set from Cherry Tree High Comedy Club is notably expensive compared to the average game. This is another case where a relatively obscure title with a small card pool results in a higher overall price for the complete Trading Card Set.

• The PURE Card (Foil)

Source Game: Unknown/Extremely Obscure

Approximate Value: Highly Variable (Rarity is key)

Reports mention a single copy of a PURE Trading Card (Foil) existing on the market, making it one of the rarest items in the entire Steam ecosystem. Its value is purely speculative and driven by the fact that only one is known to be available, appealing to the most dedicated digital archivists and collectors.

The Mechanics of Scarcity: Why Steam Cards Become So Valuable

The Steam Trading Card Market operates on a simple principle of supply and demand, but several unique factors amplify the rarity and, consequently, the price of certain cards. Understanding these mechanics is key to identifying the next potential digital gold mine.

The most significant factor is the status of the source game. When a developer or Valve delists a game from the Steam store, it becomes impossible for new users to purchase it, and critically, impossible for new Booster Packs to drop. This instantly caps the total supply of every card, emoticon, and Profile Background associated with that game. Delisting is the primary driver behind the multi-hundred dollar cards.

Another major factor is the Foil Card mechanic. Foil cards are special, extremely rare versions of the standard cards that are required to craft a Foil Badge. The drop rate for a Foil card is significantly lower than a regular card, making them inherently more valuable. In many cases, the Foil version of a common card can sell for 50 to 100 times the price of its standard counterpart, as seen with the Gaomon and Li Chengsong examples.

Finally, the behavior of Steam Wallet traders and high-level profile enthusiasts creates constant demand. Many users seek to achieve the highest possible Steam Level, which is done by crafting badges. To craft a badge, a user must collect a full set of cards. This constant desire for Badge Crafting keeps buy orders active even for the rarest sets, ensuring that any card that does appear is snapped up quickly at a premium price.

Investment Strategy: How to Spot the Next High-Value Steam Trading Card

For those looking to profit from the Steam Trading Card market, the strategy is less about finding a lucky drop and more about informed speculation. The current market trends suggest focusing on specific types of games and cards that are likely to experience a supply shock.

Look for cards from small, obscure, or low-selling indie games that have been on the store for a while but have not yet been delisted. These games have a low existing supply of cards. If the game is suddenly delisted due to a developer abandoning it or a licensing issue, the card prices will jump dramatically. The value of the Moai Head card is a perfect illustration of this principle.

Another strategy is to focus on Foil Card Sets for games that have a high number of cards in their set. The more cards in a set, the harder it is to complete the Foil Badge, increasing the value of each individual Foil card. Furthermore, look for emoticons or profile backgrounds from rare sets, as these items are also generated during badge crafting and can sometimes sell for even more than the cards themselves.

The market for these digital collectibles is constantly evolving, but the core drivers of value—scarcity, rarity (especially Foil), and the permanent removal of the source game—remain the same. By monitoring these factors and understanding the demand from high-level collectors, you can navigate the Steam Community Market and potentially snag the next card that sells for hundreds or even thousands of dollars in Steam Wallet funds.