The controversial currency used to trade cards will be replaced with a currency players have been earning since the game came out.
The Pokemon TCG Pocket mobile game is getting a major update to its trading system later this year. After a wealth of negative feedback regarding the Trader Token currency, the developers are preparing to remove them altogether in favor of using a currency players have had all along for trades. The update should roll out in autumn 2025.
Pokemon TCG Pocket’s developers shared news of the update to trading on the game’s social media this week. While it will still take a while for the changes to take effect, the biggest thing will be that while Traders Tokens are going away, shinedust, which has been a currency for upgrading cards cosmetically since the beginning, will take their place. It’s earned in-game, and as Trader Tokens are phased out, players will receive reciprocal shinedust for whatever Tokens they had.
We’d like to share an update on Trading in #PokemonTCGPocket.
👇 Join the discussionhttps://t.co/l4KacF7Ey9 pic.twitter.com/I6r0TtTsYV
— Pokémon TCG Pocket (@PokemonTCGP) March 14, 2025
Pokemon TCG Pocket has been a global hit as far as popularity and downloads, reaching 100 million users worldwide this last month. That said, the game doesn’t always hit the mark in terms of good, clean fun. We enjoyed many elements of it, but pointed out in our Shacknews review that predatory monetization elements of the game and a frustrating meta strip away a bit of the charm. Trader Tokens could considered part of those manipulative systems, and the community seems to agree.
With the phase out of Trader Tokens set for autumn 2025, stay tuned for further updates on the game as they drop. You can follow more news and coverage on the Pokemon TCG Pocket topic.
