PayPal is still available for Steam purchases in EUR, CAD, GBP, JPY, AUD, and USD. Purchases in other currencies are affected after PayPal told Valve in early July 2025 that its acquiring bank was ending processing of Steam transactions in those currencies. Valve has not given a restoration date; affected customers should check the payment options shown at checkout or use a compatible Steam Wallet code.
Why PayPal stopped working for some Steam purchases
Valve says PayPal notified it in early July 2025 that its acquiring bank for payment transactions in certain currencies was immediately ending processing of transactions related to Steam. The bank is not named in Valve’s explanation, and Valve does not state why it made the decision. Steam Support’s Purchasing Issues page gives the official account.
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That distinction matters: Valve describes a payment-processing restriction involving an acquiring bank, not a blanket decision by PayPal to ban Steam. The interruption also became a subject of discussion during a contemporaneous controversy over adult content on Steam, but timing and public speculation do not establish that content moderation caused the payment change. Windows Central’s 12 August 2025 report reproduces Valve’s explanation; it does not establish a cause beyond the bank’s processing decision.
Which currencies can still use PayPal on Steam?
Valve identifies the affected purchases by currency, not by a definitive list of countries. PayPal remains unaffected for Steam purchases in the following currencies:
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- Visa Virtual eGift Cards are designed for online use only. Gift Cards are subject to Terms and Conditions: a.co/5bw3qXJ
- When you access your Visa Virtual eGift Card for the first time, you’ll need to register your name, address, phone number, and email address via activationspot.com. These details should also be used as your billing address for online purchases, as many merchants require address verification for purchase authorization.
- This Visa Virtual eGift Card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Visa Virtual eGift Cards are emailed active.
- Funds do not expire but your Visa Virtual eGift Card has a ‘valid thru’ date (9 years from date of purchase). If funds remain after this date has passed, please call the Toll Free number found on your Visa Virtual eGift Card for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout.
- This item is not eligible for refund, resale, or return. Available for sale within the United States only. Not available to residents of Puerto Rico, Hawaii, New Mexico, South Dakota, West Virginia and the US Virgin Islands.
- EUR (euros)
- CAD (Canadian dollars)
- GBP (British pounds)
- JPY (Japanese yen)
- AUD (Australian dollars)
- USD (US dollars)
Steam purchases using PayPal in other currencies are affected, according to Valve. A country list from secondary coverage should not be treated as exhaustive: country and currency boundaries do not always map neatly to one another, and payment options can vary by store region. The reliable check is whether PayPal appears among the options in your own Steam checkout.
When will PayPal return, and what can affected customers do?
Valve says it hopes to offer PayPal again in the affected currencies, but that the timeline is uncertain. It also says it is evaluating additional payment methods without naming a provider or giving a launch date. Steam Support’s position, checked on 8 October 2026, still gives no restoration timeline.
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- Visa Virtual eGift Cards are designed for online use only. Gift Cards are subject to Terms and Conditions: a.co/5bw3qXJ
- When you access your Visa Virtual eGift Card for the first time, you’ll need to register your name, address, phone number, and email address via activationspot.com. These details should also be used as your billing address for online purchases, as many merchants require address verification for purchase authorization.
- This Visa Virtual eGift Card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Visa Virtual eGift Cards are emailed active.
- Funds do not expire but your Visa Virtual eGift Card has a ‘valid thru’ date (9 years from date of purchase). If funds remain after this date has passed, please call the Toll Free number found on your Visa Virtual eGift Card for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout.
- This item is not eligible for refund, resale, or return. Available for sale within the United States only. Not available to residents of Puerto Rico, Hawaii, New Mexico, South Dakota, West Virginia and the US Virgin Islands.
- Check checkout first. Review the payment methods shown for your purchase in your Steam store region. Available alternatives differ by region, so do not assume a particular card, bank transfer, or local payment option will be offered to every account.
- Choose another listed method if one works for you. Valve’s immediate advice is to use another current checkout option.
- Consider adding Wallet funds with a code if none of the offered methods works. Valve specifically suggests a Steam Wallet code. Check that a code is valid for your account’s region and currency before buying or redeeming it; availability and compatibility are not universal.
Does the PayPal interruption change Steam refunds?
Steam’s refund payment-method information varies by country. The page lists PayPal among methods that support refunds in the country-specific information it displays, but that does not establish a universal rule for every location or transaction. The cited information does not say that this PayPal processing interruption changed refund eligibility.
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- Visa Virtual eGift Cards are designed for online use only. Gift Cards are subject to Terms and Conditions: a.co/5bw3qXJ
- When you access your Visa Virtual eGift Card for the first time, you’ll need to register your name, address, phone number, and email address via activationspot.com. These details should also be used as your billing address for online purchases, as many merchants require address verification for purchase authorization.
- This Visa Virtual eGift Card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Visa Virtual eGift Cards are emailed active.
- Funds do not expire but your Visa Virtual eGift Card has a ‘valid thru’ date (9 years from date of purchase). If funds remain after this date has passed, please call the Toll Free number found on your Visa Virtual eGift Card for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout.
- This item is not eligible for refund, resale, or return. Available for sale within the United States only. Not available to residents of Puerto Rico, Hawaii, New Mexico, South Dakota, West Virginia and the US Virgin Islands.
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- Visa Virtual eGift Cards are designed for online use only. Gift Cards are subject to Terms and Conditions: a.co/5bw3qXJ
- When you access your Visa Virtual eGift Card for the first time, you’ll need to register your name, address, phone number, and email address via activationspot.com. These details should also be used as your billing address for online purchases, as many merchants require address verification for purchase authorization.
- This Visa Virtual eGift Card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Visa Virtual eGift Cards are emailed active.
- Funds do not expire but your Visa Virtual eGift Card has a ‘valid thru’ date (9 years from date of purchase). If funds remain after this date has passed, please call the Toll Free number found on your Visa Virtual eGift Card for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout.
- This item is not eligible for refund, resale, or return. Available for sale within the United States only. Not available to residents of Puerto Rico, Hawaii, New Mexico, South Dakota, West Virginia and the US Virgin Islands.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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