Upper Deck has announced a groundbreaking authentication feature for its 2023–24 The Cup Hockey trading card set to combat patch swapping fraud in high-value Rookie Auto Patch cards. Launching June 4, 2025, each card will now come slabbed, photographed, serial numbered, and feature a QR code linking to a gallery showing the card’s original condition. This lets collectors self-verify authenticity before purchase—without needing third-party verification. The move builds on Upper Deck’s legacy of security innovation, dating back to its autograph hologram system from 1992.

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