All Discussions > Steam Forums > Suggestions / Ideas > Topic Details
Fatality 14 Aug @ 2:53pm
3
4
2
4
Future Proof Steam: Add Censorship-Resistant Payment Methods
Protect Gaming Freedom — Bring Censorship-Resistant Payments to Steam

TL;DR : Centralized payment processors (Visa, MasterCard, PayPal) can pressure Steam to remove legal games. We want Steam to keep existing payment methods and add optional censorship-resistant options like expanded prepaid cards, local bank transfers, and crypto/stablecoins over modern payment networks. This protects players, developers, and the future of gaming from all genres.. Reply “+1” or “Signed” if you agree.


To Valve Corporation:

Steam has always stood for player choice, developer freedom, and innovation.
But today, those values are at risk. Not because of game ratings, not because of laws, but because a handful of centralized payment processors can quietly decide which games are allowed to exist.

When Visa, MasterCard, PayPal, or other intermediaries threaten to cut off payments, it forces platforms like Steam to remove games, even if those games meet all legal requirements. This is financial censorship, and it undermines both our hobby and our rights as consumers.

This Isn’t Just About NSFW Content

Today it’s adult-only visual novels. But history shows the same tactics could hit any controversial or targeted title:

  • Hatred — an ultra-violent top-down shooter removed from Greenlight after moral panic.

  • Postal 2 — infamous for its dark humor and banned in multiple countries.

  • Manhunt — targeted by politicians and media despite its cult following.

  • Six Days in Fallujah — delayed and attacked for political reasons before release.

  • Black Myth: Wukong — faced pre-release controversy and criticism despite massive player hype.

  • Even Grand Theft Auto V and Hotline Miami 2 — beloved bestsellers — were pulled from certain stores after targeted campaigns.

If financial middlemen were allowed to decide what games can be sold and purchased, many fan-favorite titles could disappear overnight. This is the fundamental point.

Why Blockchain Payments Matter

Blockchain and decentralized finance (DeFi) were designed specifically to solve this kind of problem:
  • No Single Gatekeeper — Transactions aren’t controlled by one company that can be pressured into banning content.
  • Borderless Access — Works globally, without relying on local banks or card networks.
  • Immutable Records — Payments can’t be erased or reversed by third parties.
  • Stable Value Options — Stablecoins like USDC or DAI keep dollar-based prices without volatility.

Why “Just Add Bitcoin” Misses the Point

Many well-meaning people jump straight to “let users pay with Bitcoin.” While Bitcoin is valuable as a store of value, it’s not ideal for everyday game purchases:
  • Slow settlement times and higher transaction fees compared to modern payment networks.
  • Volatile price makes it impractical for fixed-price products.
  • Not designed for instant, low-fee retail payments.

Instead, the real solution is stablecoins (USDC, DAI, etc.) operating on fast, low-cost payment networks like:
  • Polygon — pennies per transaction, near-instant settlement.
  • Lightning Network — built on Bitcoin for instant, ultra-low-fee transfers.
  • Arbitrum / Optimism — Ethereum-based networks with fast, cheap payments.

These work much like Visa or PayPal behind the scenes, except without a single company that can be pressured to block legal sales.

What We’re Asking For

We’re not asking Valve to overhaul its entire platform or force crypto on anyone. We’re asking for choice:
  • Keep existing card and PayPal systems.
  • Expand prepaid/gift card options for more cash access.
  • Add optional crypto/stablecoin payments on modern payment networks.

Why Now?

Gaming is more than entertainment, it’s culture. And culture shouldn’t be filtered by the policies of financial middlemen. This is Valve’s chance to:
  • Stand as the consumer-first platform it’s always claimed to be.
  • Lead gaming into the next generation of payment freedom.
  • Protect developers and players from future censorship threats.

If you agree: Reply “+1” or “Signed” below so Valve can see the community wants this.

F the Banks,
T (“Fatality”)

💬 Share this thread with friends, gaming Discords, and on Reddit. The more visible it is, the harder it is to ignore. Thank you! o7
< >
Showing 1-15 of 250 comments
datCookie 14 Aug @ 3:14pm 
This is nothing more than a pro-crypto post.

Valve don't want fraudulent transactions taking place here, nor highly volatile digital currencies.

They've tried it before, it didn't work.


This whole payment processors ordeal has really brought all the crypto bro scammers out of the woodwork
#1
rawWwRrr 14 Aug @ 3:21pm 
There already is "Censorship-Resistant Payment Methods".

And adding crypto doesn't solve the problem as Steam will keep using Visa / MC.
#2
Tito Shivan 14 Aug @ 3:21pm 
Do you know what the problem of blockchain, and all the criptobabble is?

Only a bunch of nerds use it.
#3
Truth 14 Aug @ 3:31pm 
Originally posted by Fatality:
We’re not asking Valve to overhaul its entire platform or force crypto on anyone. We’re asking for choice:
  • Keep existing card and PayPal systems.
  • Expand prepaid/gift card options for more cash access.
  • Add optional crypto/stablecoin payments on modern payment networks.

Except the issue is Mastercard/Visa said Steam would be dropped if they had those games on their store. So even if they made their own payment method they'd still be forced to drop those games as the majority of payments are via Mastercard/Visa and there wouldn't be enough payments in crypto to support them.
#4
Shreddy 14 Aug @ 3:33pm 
1
It’s sad that the mods allow the same handful of users to berate and insult anyone who posts a suggestion they don’t like. These people constantly spam the forums and offer absolutely nothing of value to the discussion.
#5
Mad Scientist 14 Aug @ 3:33pm 
Like every single other thread in regard to payment methods, this wouldn't change the current situation.
Last edited by Mad Scientist; 14 Aug @ 3:35pm
#6
datCookie 14 Aug @ 3:37pm 
Originally posted by Shreddy:
It’s sad that the mods allow the same handful of users to berate and insult anyone who posts a suggestion they don’t like. These people constantly spam the forums and offer absolutely nothing of value to the discussion.

Where are they being berated and insulted?

Reasons why their suggestion won't work are being presented and pointing out that a hundred other threads with the same suggestion have been made isn't insulting either.

Valve don't want crypto, nor will alternative payment processors solve the problem.

This has been made clear a hundred times.
#7
Tito Shivan 14 Aug @ 3:39pm 
Originally posted by Mad Scientist:
Like every single other thread in regard to payment methods, this wouldn't change the current situation.
I'm afraid they're all attempts to vow for the incorporation of cryptos in the store taking advantage of the situation
#8
Mad Scientist 14 Aug @ 3:40pm 
Originally posted by datCookie:
Originally posted by Shreddy:
It’s sad that the mods allow the same handful of users to berate and insult anyone who posts a suggestion they don’t like. These people constantly spam the forums and offer absolutely nothing of value to the discussion.

Where are they being berated and insulted?

Reasons why their suggestion won't work are being presented and pointing out that a hundred other threads with the same suggestion have been made isn't insulting either.

Valve don't want crypto, nor will alternative payment processors solve the problem.

This has been made clear a hundred times.
Also doesn't help when people delete and remake threads because too many identical threads exist.

Originally posted by Tito Shivan:
Originally posted by Mad Scientist:
Like every single other thread in regard to payment methods, this wouldn't change the current situation.
I'm afraid they're all attempts to vow for the incorporation of cryptos in the store taking advantage of the situation
That is basically all it is.
Last edited by Mad Scientist; 14 Aug @ 3:41pm
#9
Fatality 14 Aug @ 3:50pm 
Originally posted by datCookie:
Originally posted by Shreddy:
It’s sad that the mods allow the same handful of users to berate and insult anyone who posts a suggestion they don’t like. These people constantly spam the forums and offer absolutely nothing of value to the discussion.

Where are they being berated and insulted?

Reasons why their suggestion won't work are being presented and pointing out that a hundred other threads with the same suggestion have been made isn't insulting either.

Valve don't want crypto, nor will alternative payment processors solve the problem.

This has been made clear a hundred times.
What inspired this post most was not people who reject crypto entirely like some of you replying to this. You people cannot be convinced, you don’t know what it is I’m talking about. However, it was mostly those who said “let us use Bitcoin bro” that I’m speaking most to. As far as I’m concerned, you guys are missing the point and just rejecting crypto out of some political bend or something. Not sure. The history you point to is irrelevant, what I’m advocating for has not been attempted by steam because if didn't exist then. It does now and we should use these tools along side the commoners methods that you seem so addicted to and scared to change. I’m simply advocating for additional payment methods that bring in all participants from all countries. Being against this is political, not logical.
Last edited by Fatality; 14 Aug @ 3:52pm
#10
Fatality 14 Aug @ 3:51pm 
Originally posted by Tito Shivan:
Do you know what the problem of blockchain, and all the criptobabble is?

Only a bunch of nerds use it.
Good thing we are a community of nerds huh?
Last edited by Fatality; 14 Aug @ 3:52pm
#11
Fatality 14 Aug @ 3:53pm 
Originally posted by rawWwRrr:
There already is "Censorship-Resistant Payment Methods".

And adding crypto doesn't solve the problem as Steam will keep using Visa / MC.
Please read the post. I’m asking for additional, which many in other countries would benefit from this more than you think.
#12
Tito Shivan 14 Aug @ 3:55pm 
Originally posted by Fatality:
Originally posted by Tito Shivan:
Do you know what the problem of blockchain, and all the criptobabble is?

Only a bunch of nerds use it.
Good thing we are a community of nerds huh?
The size of the community of gaming nerds using cryptos is minuscule next to the size of the gaming population just using their CCs.
#13
Fatality 14 Aug @ 3:56pm 
Originally posted by Shreddy:
It’s sad that the mods allow the same handful of users to berate and insult anyone who posts a suggestion they don’t like. These people constantly spam the forums and offer absolutely nothing of value to the discussion.

Disagreeing with me isn’t hate or insulting. It’s alright, I promise. This space is full of conflict and trying to convince people who make assumptions and emotional arguments rather than do research into what specific aspects of crypto could be useful for certain use cases. This is a perfect opportunity to decentralize payments and transactions worldwide.
#14
Mad Scientist 14 Aug @ 3:56pm 
Originally posted by Fatality:
Originally posted by rawWwRrr:
There already is "Censorship-Resistant Payment Methods".

And adding crypto doesn't solve the problem as Steam will keep using Visa / MC.
Please read the post. I’m asking for additional, which many in other countries would benefit from this more than you think.
Those additional would change nothing unless they were a giant chunk of transactions. It's difficult to beat 90%, especially when those 90% brands are globally recognized and used almost everywhere.

Random other payment methods are going to change nothing about this especially since people use visa/mc for loads of things, not just steam, which is through their banks.
#15
< >
Showing 1-15 of 250 comments
Per page: 1530 50

All Discussions > Steam Forums > Suggestions / Ideas > Topic Details
Date Posted: 14 Aug @ 2:53pm
Posts: 250
Start a New Discussion

Discussions Rules and Guidelines