In the ongoing saga of payment processors locking down payments, Steam has been hit by PayPal limiting purchases to only a select few currencies.
This has been going on for a little while now, with numerous posts across social media from users wondering why PayPal has been unavailable for them. Recently though, it seems the situation has only worsened as Valve have now put up a statement to clarify the situation when going to check out in a whole bunch of countries.
Valve have now added a statement to their purchasing FAQ that reads:
PayPal use on Steam is currently unavailable in my currency. Why?
In early July 2025, PayPal notified Valve that their acquiring bank for payment transactions in certain currencies was immediately terminating the processing of any transactions related to Steam. This affects Steam purchases using PayPal in currencies other than EUR, CAD, GBP, JPY, AUD and USD.
We hope to offer PayPal as an option for these currencies in the future but the timeline is uncertain. We are also evaluating adding additional payment methods on Steam for the customers affected by this.
In the meantime, please use one of our other current payment methods during checkout. If you can't use any of the available options, you can consider using a Steam Wallet code to add funds to your account.
We don't entirely know why this is happening though. It may be linked to the other payment issues that Steam and itch.io have been facing but it also might not be.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
About the author - Liam Dawe
I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly checked on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly. You can also follow my personal adventures on Bluesky.
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soulsource 4 hours ago
It would be so nice if all bigger banks would invest the time to come up with a solution that allows to cut out those payment-processor middle-men.
There are solutions, but those are all insular solutions... For instance, here in Austria, we have EPS. That's a Web-API that online-stores can use for payment processing with Austrian banks. It's the most user-friendly solution that I know, but it's limited to Austria...
Similarly, in the EU there would be SEPA Instant Transfer, which could be used for a payment processing solution. However, it's optional for banks to implement it, and again, it's limited to EU...
There are solutions, but those are all insular solutions... For instance, here in Austria, we have EPS. That's a Web-API that online-stores can use for payment processing with Austrian banks. It's the most user-friendly solution that I know, but it's limited to Austria...
Similarly, in the EU there would be SEPA Instant Transfer, which could be used for a payment processing solution. However, it's optional for banks to implement it, and again, it's limited to EU...
3 Likes
williamjcm 4 hours ago
I wouldn't be surprised if the reason why some currencies aren't supported anymore came from PayPal rather than the bank itself.
After all, if Mastercard lied about not censoring legal purchases, why wouldn't PayPal also lie ?
After all, if Mastercard lied about not censoring legal purchases, why wouldn't PayPal also lie ?
1 Likes
CatKiller 4 hours ago
After all, if Mastercard lied about not censoring legal purchases, why wouldn't PayPal also lie ?If PayPal had a problem with Steam they probably wouldn't still be handling those six currencies. Instead it seems like those are the currencies PayPal handles itself and it's whoever they get to cover the other currencies that's got whatever issue they've got.
3 Likes
williamjcm 4 hours ago
If PayPal had a problem with Steam they probably wouldn't still be handling those six currencies.They're starting with smaller markets just to test the waters and see how Valve responds.
2 Likes
A friend informed me this weekend that Stream purchases via Paypal have also become impossible from Switzerland.
PayPal is not a government; they have no authority to make these types of decisions. Furthermore, I would be extremely surprised if their decision had any legal basis.
What they are doing is an obstruction of free trade than anything else, with Steam and its customers being the victims.
This just makes me want to cry scandal and call for a boycott of Paypal ;-(
Taking Steam customers, who we all are, hostage in this way is unforgivable.
SHAME ON YOU, PAYPAL !!!
Last edited by phil995511 on 13 Aug 2025 at 1:43 pm UTC
PayPal is not a government; they have no authority to make these types of decisions. Furthermore, I would be extremely surprised if their decision had any legal basis.
What they are doing is an obstruction of free trade than anything else, with Steam and its customers being the victims.
This just makes me want to cry scandal and call for a boycott of Paypal ;-(
Taking Steam customers, who we all are, hostage in this way is unforgivable.
SHAME ON YOU, PAYPAL !!!
Last edited by phil995511 on 13 Aug 2025 at 1:43 pm UTC
1 Likes
Eike 4 hours ago
Waiting for Wero...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wero_(payment)
Man, I hate it that they have cut off the system before (Giropay in my case) before the new one is kicking in!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wero_(payment)
Man, I hate it that they have cut off the system before (Giropay in my case) before the new one is kicking in!
0 Likes
Eike 4 hours ago
Similarly, in the EU there would be SEPA Instant Transfer, which could be used for a payment processing solution. However, it's optional for banks to implement it, and again, it's limited to EU...
If a bank is offering SEPA transfers (I'm not aware of banks here that don't), is has to offer SEPA Instant Transfers for the same price since early 2025.
Last edited by Eike on 13 Aug 2025 at 3:55 pm UTC
1 Likes
amatai 3 hours ago
We should just embrace postal cheque as it was meant to be done.
5 Likes
Like it says in the article, it's not PayPal but their acquiring bank (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acquiring_bank). I only learned yesterday that there are more middlemen skimming off the top. A huge mess.
1 Likes
scaine 2 hours ago
This article is a timely reminder that I cancelled all my PayPal payments last month, but I wasn't allowed to cancel my account because one was still pending - Patreon, I think. Hopefully I can cancel now - everything is migrated back to credit cards for now, which at least is a direct payment process. Of course, the real problem is that in terms of credit cards generally, you really only have Visa, Mastercard or Amex.
I suppose in the UK, we have smaller banks offering credit cards, like Revolut, or Monzo. But they're small fish. At least you can definitely use Monzo on Steam.
I suppose in the UK, we have smaller banks offering credit cards, like Revolut, or Monzo. But they're small fish. At least you can definitely use Monzo on Steam.
2 Likes
Cloversheen 2 hours ago
I suppose in the UK, we have smaller banks offering credit cards, like Revolut, or Monzo. But they're small fish. At least you can definitely use Monzo on Steam.Yeah, here in Sweden the issue is such that you only ever have the option between Visa or MasterCard, and really only Visa is universal enough to be able to presume it will work without checking. We are also mostly a cash-free society at this point (thank the stars) so you really don't have an option to go without Visa.
But good job de-paypaling! I will be working on doing that over the coming months.
0 Likes
Paypal hasnt been an option in Argentina for at least 10 years... and the reason is money laundering, Paypal was thoroughly investigated by the government. Its time for governments to regulate better shaddy payment processors.
2 Likes
Leahi84 2 hours ago
I'm starting to think ill have to start buying things with crypto at some point in the future with the way things are going. As much as I've been against it, it might be the only option in the future to have the freedom to purchase what I want.
3 Likes
Comandante Ñoñardo 2 hours ago
Stablecoins is the solution, but the problem are the high commissions...
1 Likes
I only use Paypal for one thing--selling my Magic cards. The outfit I sell to wants Paypal. For everything else I just use a credit card. Mind you, the credit cards skim off the top too, it's just less visible because they charge the store.
(Oh, and no, Stablecoins are not the solution to anything unless maybe the question is "How do I sidestep lethal US sanctions on my country?" and even there, probably not)
Last edited by Purple Library Guy on 13 Aug 2025 at 4:28 pm UTC
(Oh, and no, Stablecoins are not the solution to anything unless maybe the question is "How do I sidestep lethal US sanctions on my country?" and even there, probably not)
Last edited by Purple Library Guy on 13 Aug 2025 at 4:28 pm UTC
2 Likes
Caldathras 59 minutes ago
Have you ever noticed how any new solutions/alternatives just seem to add more middlemen? That is what is racking up the cost of everything ...
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I don't see cryptocurrencies as the solution. They're too unstable, for one thing. If they ever become big enough to be a serious concern, the governments will find a way to take control of them.
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I don't see cryptocurrencies as the solution. They're too unstable, for one thing. If they ever become big enough to be a serious concern, the governments will find a way to take control of them.
0 Likes
Eike 53 minutes ago
Have you ever noticed how any new solutions/alternatives just seem to add more middlemen? That is what is racking up the cost of everything ...
Hm, I don't think so. I'm sure they're doing it to actually lower the cost. And if you compare it to... much earlier, like bank transfers needing a day, or sending around cheques needing several days...
0 Likes
tarmo888 42 minutes ago
A friend informed me this weekend that Stream purchases via Paypal have also become impossible from Switzerland.
Makes sense, CHF is not on the list, but it's not PayPal, it's their bank who doesn't want currencies other than EUR, CAD, GBP, JPY, AUD and USD.
0 Likes
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