In a move that affects millions of PC gamers worldwide, PayPal has drastically reduced its support for Steam purchases to just six major currencies. As of early July 2025, Steam users can only use PayPal when paying in US dollars, euros, British pounds, Canadian dollars, Australian dollars, and Japanese yen.
The sudden restriction came after PayPal notified Valve that their acquiring bank—the financial institution responsible for processing transactions—had immediately terminated services for Steam purchases in all other currencies. This leaves gamers in Latin America, most of Asia, Africa, and parts of Eastern Europe without access to one of the most popular online payment methods for their Steam purchases.
Valve acknowledged the disruption in a brief statement, explaining that the change was beyond their control and resulted from PayPal’s banking partner’s decision. No specific reason was given for the termination, though some industry observers point to potential concerns around transaction risks or compliance issues in certain regions.
“We hope to restore PayPal as a payment option in more markets in the future,” Valve stated through their support channels. However, they provided no timeline for when—or if—such restoration might occur.
For affected users, alternatives include credit or debit cards, where available, or purchasing Steam Wallet codes through retail outlets and authorized online sellers. These codes can be redeemed on Steam to add funds to accounts, providing a workaround for those who previously relied on PayPal.
The impact of this change varies a lot depending on where you live. In countries where international credit cards are uncommon or tough to get, PayPal was often a key way in for digital marketplaces like Steam. These spots now run into bigger hurdles to getting games, which could end up hurting both local gaming communities and the developers aiming for those players.
Time to level up your payment game
Valve has said they’re looking into other ways for people in affected regions to pay, and this might make space for local payment processors or other digital wallets to jump in. For now, the company suggests players check Steam’s payment page for their region to see what options are left.
This whole situation shows just how complicated the setup is behind digital game stores, and how quick changes in financial partnerships can mess with gamers’ access to what they love. Big markets are still covered under the six main currencies, but for a lot of people, this is one of the most drastic cuts to payment options Steam has seen in years.
