What exactly is ETC?
ETC is a membership-based trading card platform built around one team. Members pool their buying power to open premium product together, help guide which breaks the team pursues through ranked-choice polling, and bid on the individual cards they want through sealed auctions. It's not a traditional breaker — it's a platform built around shared purchasing power and transparent operations.
Is this like a normal break?
Not really. In a traditional break, you typically pay for a random team or player slot and hope for the best. At ETC, every card pulled goes up for auction exclusively to team members. You bid on the cards you actually want. You bid your true value — and you never pay more than the second-highest bid.
Why not just buy singles?
Buying singles is the rational move in today's market — we agree. But you shouldn't have to choose. ETC was built specifically so you don't have to make that trade-off. By pooling resources as a team, we can rip premium product that would be irrational to buy alone, and the auction system means you still only pay fair market value for the cards you want.
How do the auctions work?
ETC uses Vickrey auctions — a sealed-bid, second-price format. You submit a private bid for any card you want. The highest bidder wins, but pays the second-highest bid amount. This format is scientifically demonstrated to incentivize bidding your true value, because there's no advantage to underbidding or overbidding.
What does my membership pay for?
Between 50–80% of your monthly dues flow directly into the Team Bank, which is used to purchase breaks for the team. The remainder covers platform operations. Spending is documented and published for full transparency.
How does the team influence which boxes get opened?
Every member has a voice. The team ranks their preferences through Borda count polling — a consensus-building system where every vote shapes the direction. Poll results guide break selection, giving the operator a clear signal of what the team wants while preserving the flexibility to navigate real-world constraints like product availability and timing.
What does Early Access give me?
Early Access members receive their membership purchase invite before the general public, with invites staggered four minutes apart based on sign-up timestamp. You also get a one-time 10% discount on your membership. First come, first served.
How does signing up early affect my Dedication Level?
Your Dedication Level is determined by your member number — the earlier you join, the higher your level. The first 40 members lock in Visionary pricing, which offers the lowest rates and the highest Team Bank contribution percentage (80%). As tiers fill, new members join at progressively higher price points. Signing up for Early Access secures your place in line, which directly determines how early you can purchase a membership and, in turn, which Dedication Tier you land in.
When does ETC launch?
ETC is targeting a Q2 2026 launch. Early Access sign-ups will receive their invites before the public launch date.
