A rumor has popped up on the Steam subreddit claiming that the video game purchasing platform will soon allow for purchases using Bitcoin. Currently, Steam only accepts credit cards, Steam pre-paid gift cards, and PayPal.
The news comes from a leak of the Steam Translation Server. According to the code mentioned on the server, Steam will utilize BitPay to complete transactions. BitPay is a service similar to PayPal, allowing users to purchase items online using Bitcoin.
One interesting thing to note is that Valve will not allow users to try and game the price of Bitcoin through transactions. If a refund is requested on a purchase made with Bitcoin, the user will get credit in his or her Steam wallet.
While it isn’t too surprising to see Bitcoin getting more support from companies, it is a little shocking to hear Valve accepting the cryptocurrency. When responding to fan questions in a reddit AMA almost two years ago, Valve’s Gabe Newell seemed dismissive of using Bitcoin on Steam.
“There are two related issues: one is treating a crypto-currency as another currency type that we support and the broader issue is monetary behaviors of game economies,” Newell posted online. “The first issue is more about crypto-currencies stabilizing as mediums of account.”
So what do you think? Are you interested in buying games on Steam with Bitcoin? What other services do you hope will start accepting the new currency? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
