PayPal is the most recognizable e-wallet online. From popular e-shops to the best PayPal casinos, this payment method is widely accepted across the internet. It has long been considered a convenient and trusted solution for millions of users. Unfortunately, its use on Steam has recently been partly restricted, which has raised concerns among many players.
In early July 2025, Steam users across dozens of countries opened their accounts and discovered something unusual. PayPal, one of the most widely used payment methods on the platform, had quietly disappeared for anyone paying in local currencies outside a very short list. Overnight, millions of players in regions as far apart as Mexico, Poland and Switzerland were told they could no longer check out with PayPal. Only six currencies survived the cut. The change sparked confusion and anger, while Valve, the company behind Steam, scrambled to explain.
Six currencies still accepted
For now PayPal payments work only if the user pays in US dollars, euros, British pounds, Canadian dollars, Japanese yen or Australian dollars. Anyone buying games in other currencies sees the PayPal option vanish from the checkout page. That means long-time PayPal users in places like Norway or Hungary have to switch to a bank card or hunt down a Steam Wallet code.
The list of supported currencies is strikingly narrow. Steam serves over 150 different regions, and many of them had PayPal enabled for years. The sudden rollback left entire communities locked out of their preferred payment method without warning. Social media posts filled quickly with complaints from users who rely on PayPal balances or who lack easy access to credit cards.
Valve blames PayPal’s acquiring bank
Valve’s official explanation pointed to PayPal’s banking partners. According to statements made in early July, one of PayPal’s acquiring banks terminated processing for a long list of currencies. Valve said it was informed with little notice. The fallout landed directly on players, who had no say in the matter.
The technical details are not especially glamorous. An acquiring bank is the financial institution that handles transactions between a merchant and payment processors. If that link breaks, payments fail. In this case, the bank in question apparently decided it no longer wanted to process Steam sales for certain currencies. Valve insists it is working with PayPal to restore coverage, though no timeline has been offered.
Tied to broader financial pressure
The move did not happen in a vacuum. Over the past year, banks and card companies have reportedly been pressuring digital platforms about adult content, gambling and other sensitive material. Steam itself faced questions earlier in 2025 when financial partners expressed discomfort with explicit titles listed in its store. Some observers believe the PayPal cutback is connected to that climate. Valve has avoided making that direct link, but many users suspect the issues are related. When banks get nervous, they often act in clusters, and payment processors can shift policies quickly.
Impact on everyday players
You don’t have to look far to see the fallout. For players the frustration kicks in right away. A Norwegian teenager saving allowance money in a PayPal account cannot buy the latest expansion without converting to another method. A Polish streamer who budgets through PayPal now has to load up on gift cards. Even small details, like refund policies, become tricky when the chosen payment method is unavailable. The change also highlights how dependent global digital platforms are on the cooperation of financial institutions that operate largely behind the scenes.
Some regions will adapt easily. In North America and Western Europe, card usage is widespread, and Steam Wallet codes are stocked in retail shops. Elsewhere, PayPal was one of the few trusted methods for online payments. Losing it means relying on less familiar processors, and in some cases higher fees.
Valve’s short term advice
With no fix on the horizon, Valve has suggested players turn to alternative methods at checkout. Standard credit and debit cards continue to work in most regions. Steam Wallet codes remain a fallback option, although they are not always simple to find in physical stores. Valve says it is exploring additional processors, but nothing has been confirmed.
The company has kept communication brief. A short statement acknowledged the issue and confirmed that engineers are “actively working” on a solution. For now, the advice is to keep trying other methods if PayPal no longer appears.
Looking ahead
The PayPal story is a reminder of how fragile digital payment systems can be. A single banking partner changes policy and millions of users feel the ripple overnight. Players have grown used to a wide array of payment options on platforms like Steam, and the sudden cut shows how quickly that can change. PayPal casino players are afraid that such a cut-off may hit them as well. For now there are no such signs and we believe this will not happen. Whether the missing currencies return depends on negotiations between Valve, PayPal and the banking networks behind them. Until then, six currencies have the privilege, and the rest must wait. There is no denying the frustration, and no clear sign of when or if it will be resolved.
