Why PayPal Isn’t Available for Steam Purchases in Many Countries: Valve’s Insight

Update: Valve has confirmed that the recent halt in PayPal support for Steam transactions relates to content issues discussed earlier concerning Mastercard.

If you’ve faced problems paying on Steam with PayPal lately, you’re not alone. For over a month, players have reported getting messages saying PayPal is “currently unavailable” in different regions. Many users on Reddit have shared their frustration about being unable to complete purchases.

Valve finally shed some light on the situation. In early July 2025, PayPal informed them that one of its banks stopped processing transactions for games on Steam in specific currencies. This change affects countries that don’t use the Euro, Canadian Dollar, British Pound, Japanese Yen, Australian Dollar, or US Dollar. So, if you’re in a region utilizing other currencies, buying on Steam with PayPal might not be an option for now.

Valve expressed hope to restore PayPal support for these currencies in the future but acknowledged they don’t have a set timeline. They are considering adding alternative payment methods on Steam for affected customers. Until these options become available, users might consider using a Steam Wallet code to fund their accounts.

This situation raises questions about whether PayPal’s withdrawal is connected to Valve’s recent policy changes surrounding adult content, following pressure from payment processors. Recent discussions online show users speculating about any direct links between payment processing issues and content regulation. Although the timeline seems close, the earliest Reddit mentions predate the content policy changes.

Players are understandably anxious, hoping for a quick resolution. With many eagerly waiting to purchase games or downloadable content, the spotlight is on Valve to provide more payment alternatives soon. In the meantime, if you’re trying to buy that game you’ve been eyeing, explore using different payment methods that might still be available.

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