When will trading release in Pokémon TCG Pocket?

Trading in Pokémon TCG Pocket has been known since the app’s announcement back in Feb. 2024, but the trade button in the Social Hub has been greyed out and slapped with a “coming soon” sticker since launch.

The much-awaited function will likely come with its own requirements and limitations, meaning you probably won’t be able to get your hands on a Mew card for mere scraps.

Here’s what we know about when trading will release in Pokémon TCG Pocket, and what we do and don’t know about the feature so far.

When does trading release in Pokémon TCG Pocket?

Trading in Pokémon TCG Pocket will release in January 2025, according to the developers via a community post on the official forums.

There isn’t an exact date as to when trading will become available, so be on the lookout as we get closer. One possible suggestion is Jan. 30, alongside a possible expansion release as datamined by CentroLeaks on X — assuming they could be bundled together in the same update — but until we know more, it could drop anytime during the month.

How trades may work in Pokémon TCG Pocket

Beyond the January date, there’s little we know about trading, and a lot of questions about how the feature will work. Here’s a breakdown of everything so far, including some comparisons with how trading works in Pokémon Go to break down what’s possible.

What we know about trades so far

• Only certain cards will be allowed to be traded starting in January 2025, with plans to “gradually expand the selection of cards” over time, according to the announcement post.
• That you can trade with friends, as shown in the Pokémon TCG Pocket announcement video from The Official Pokémon YouTube channel.

What we don’t know about trades so far

• If there are any requirements, be it your level, being friends with the trade recipient, and / or being a physical distance away like in Pokémon Go (though latter one is unlikely, going by the aforementioned video). It’s also possible there will be other restrictions; for example, you may have noticed that you need at least three copies of a card before you can obtain a flair. Pokémon TCG Pocket may instil a similar rule where you’ll need multiple copies of a card before you can let go of one via a trade.

• If there is a cost. Following the footsteps of Pokémon Go, Pokémon TCG Pocket may introduce a cost to initiate a trade. There are a limited number of currencies in the game in its current state, but Pokémon TCG Pocket could use Shine Dust, or introduce a new currency specifically for trading.
• Whether rarities must be equal. You wouldn’t trade your crumpled Pikachu card for your little siblings holographic Charizard card … right? Trading in Pokémon TCG Pocket could follow a rule where you can only trade cards of the same rarity, while some rarities (such as gold crown cards) might not be allowed to be traded at all.
• Whether there will be limits to how often you can trade. In Pokémon Go, you can trade up to 100 regular Pokémon a day, while special Pokémon like legendaries and shinies can only be traded once per day — except for during special events where the trading limit is increased. It’s possible Pokémon TCG Pocket could follow suit.

• Whether it is restricted to friends only. In a dream scenario, Pokémon TCG Pocket could have a trading section where players can list cards they’re looking for or post a binder full of cards they’re willing to trade. Other players can look through their binders and initiate a trade by offering something in return. Of course, it could simply follow Pokémon Go’s lead in allowing trades for friends only.

For more Pokémon TCG Pocket guides, we have explainers on the Premium Pass, Hourglasses, flair, how to get Mew, the current meta, and showcases.