- PayPal limits Steam payments to six currencies: EUR, USD, GBP, JPY, CAD, and AUD.
- The origin is a PayPal acquiring bank hack for “certain currencies” used on Steam.
- There's no confirmed return date; Valve is exploring new payment methods.
- Alternatives: cards, local methods, and Steam Wallet codes to add funds.
During the last weeks, Many users have seen PayPal disappear from Steam. when trying to pay for purchases. What seemed like a one-time glitch has been confirmed as a real change affecting a large portion of countries and currencies in the Valve store.
Valve has updated its support to explain that, as of early July, One of the banks that processes payments for PayPal has stopped processing transactions. linked to Steam in "certain currencies." The result is that PayPal only remains operational with a few currencies, and for the rest, a warning appears stating that the method is not available in the buyer's country.
What's changed with PayPal payments on Steam?
According to the help page itself, The cut was caused by a decision of PayPal's acquiring bank. that processed Steam transactions in multiple currencies. The measure was immediate and explains the errors customers began seeing in early July.
Since then, PayPal only works on Steam if you pay in One of these currencies: euro, US dollar, pound sterling, Japanese yen, Canadian dollar, or Australian dollar. In Europe, countries with a currency other than the euro can continue to pay in EUR, but all other regions outside that list are affected.
When the method is not available, a notice like "PayPal is not available in your country». It's not an account lock, but a limitation by currency and acquirer.
Valve indicates that wants to recover PayPal in more currencies But he can't give a timeframe. In the meantime, he suggests using other payment methods or topping up your balance with Steam Wallet codes to continue shopping normally.
Where it's being noticed and what the players are seeing
The reports are repeated in Latin America, Mexico, Eastern Europe and parts of AsiaIn all cases, the pattern is similar: PayPal appears in the list of methods, but when selecting the option, the store displays that it cannot be used in the user's country.
In Poland, for example, Several buyers with zloty (PLN) have received the unavailability noticeA striking case posted on Reddit recounts how, after calling PayPal support, a user's account was temporarily blocked due to suspicion of being underage; an isolated incident that illustrates the confusion at the time, but doesn't reflect how things work in general.
In Mexico and other LATAM markets, the situation is identical: PayPal appears, but when you try to complete the purchase, the system returns the message that it is not available for the region.
The practical consequence is clear: Players must opt for cards, local methods, or Steam balance. to continue purchasing games, DLC, and other items from the store.
Why it happened: what was confirmed and what is being considered
The only thing confirmed by Valve is the PayPal acquiring bank cut for certain currencies. Additionally, a company representative told the press that the issue "is related to Steam content," linking it to the recent demands of processors such as Mastercard on titles with adult content.
However, There is no detailed statement from PayPal or Valve. that officially links this currency restriction to the withdrawal of controversial games. In parallel, other hypotheses are being considered: banks classifying certain operations as "high risk," stricter anti-fraud controls or warnings about using VPNs to take advantage of regional price differences.
The pressure of has also been pointed out activist groups and brand standards from some card issuers. Even with that context, the reality is that buyers who paid with PayPal in unsupported currencies are, for now, left without that option.
Until there is a negotiated solution or a change of purchasers, PayPal support will remain limited to six currencies within the Steam ecosystem.
Alternatives to purchasing on Steam while the restriction lasts
Valve recommends use other methods available at checkout Depending on the country: credit or debit cards (preferably with 3-D Secure), and local gateways if enabled.
Another way is to add funds with Steam Wallet codes, purchased from official stores or authorized retailers. It's a simple solution that can also be useful if you want to avoid using PayPal on Steam and keep your purchases uninterrupted.
If you had recurring payments or reservations, it's a good idea to review your associated payment method to avoid payment failures. Cancellations or refunds will follow the usual procedure: they will be returned to the original method or Steam wallet, as appropriate.
As a general rule, it is preferable do not use VPN or shortcuts that violate the store's terms, as this could result in account blocks or limits.
What Valve is planning and what to expect
Valve has stated that explore the incorporation of additional payment methods for affected users, without specifying which ones or when they will arrive. At the same time, he says he would like to offer PayPal in more currencies again, although it does not handle dates.
In this scenario, the priority seems to be stabilize the shopping experience with alternative options and, if possible, recover PayPal flows when there is an acquirer that assumes processing in the excluded currencies.
The current panorama leaves a clear message: dependence on a single payment method can be broken from one day to the next due to decisions by banks and processors. Diversifying options is, today, the most sensible way to avoid interruptions.
With all the above, the situation is defined by a confirmable fact - the cut of the PayPal acquirer for several currencies - and by a real impact on players from numerous countries, especially in Latin America and Eastern Europe. Until support is restored or new methods are implemented, the safest route is to turn to cards, local solutions, and SteamWallet to keep the shopping going.
