You Can Now Buy Steam Games Using Bitcoin | MOUSE n JOYPAD

Yes, you read correctly. Starting today, Valve is allowing customers to purchase games on their Steam digital platform using the open-sourced, person-to-person Bitcoin form of currency.

For those unfamiliar with what exactly Bitcoin is -and trust me, I’m still trying to figure it out fully- it is a digital form of currency that is given from one person to another without the mediation of banks. Bitcoins are purchased through specified Bitcoin ATMs in a manner that deserves a separate story on its own, although that is entirely irrelevant to this particular story.

What’s the reason behind Valve’s decision to allow the usage of digital currency as a legitimate means to purchase games? That answer came in a post by an anonymous bitcoin developer:

“Valve reached out to us because they were looking for a fast, international payment method for Steam users in emerging gaming markets in countries like India, China, and Brazil. While more users are coming online in these countries, traditional payment options like credit cards often aren’t available.”

So it seems as though Valve’s decision was based on the fact that demand for games are higher than the means to obtaining them, which if you ask me garners my respect. This now means that the accessibility of games on Steam on an international basis are now even broader. Before Bitcoin became an avenue to purchasing games on the digital marketplace, methods such as Paypal, major credit cards (including JCB cards), and gift cards were already set in place. With this move, Valve also further separates its distribution platform from any form of middlemen in terms of the financial aspects of purchasing games.

For further news on Valve, Steam, and, now, Bitcoin, keep your eyes peeled to the Mouse Joypad website. Also, if you or anyone you know has, is, or will use Bitcoin, or if you too are as perplexed by the idea that is Bitcoin, feel free to feed us with a bit of queries, thoughts, knowledge pertaining to the somewhat elusive payment network down below in the ‘comments’ section. Happy spending y’all!