SteamCommunity

Although often described as a P2P marketplace, the Steam Community Market functions differently from typical peer-to-peer sites: you list an item directly from your Steam inventory, and the buyer instantly acquires it into theirs. Funds from sales go to the seller’s Steam Wallet, which cannot be redeemed for real money but can be spent on other items, games, or content within Steam. This streamlined process eliminates the need to rely on external bots or third-party platforms, offering a simpler, more integrated user experience.

The SCM is unequivocally the most popular marketplace for CS2 items and other Steam game assets, enjoying millions of daily transactions. Its ubiquitous presence within the Steam client—used by over 100 million active users worldwide—ensures swift selling times and extensive liquidity for most items. Whether you want a budget-friendly skin or a mid-tier collectible, you can often find multiple listings on the Steam Community Market at any given moment.

Valve introduced the Steam Community Market in 2013, initially focusing on trading cards. It quickly expanded to include CS:GO items (now CS2), DOTA 2 cosmetics, and other in-game assets. Since it is fully owned and operated by Valve—founded in 2003—this official status has reinforced users’ trust in the legitimacy and safety of trading on the platform. Over the years, the market’s built-in user protections and integrated design have made it a preferred destination for both newcomers and casual traders.

The biggest drawback to the SCM is its total 15% fee for CS2 items. This includes a 5% “Steam Transaction Fee” plus a 10% “game-specific fee” for CS2 (and some other games). Although high compared to many third-party marketplaces (e.g., 2.5% on BUFF163), users who value convenience and security may still find it worthwhile. Note that once earnings are deposited into your Steam Wallet, you can only use them to buy other Steam items or games—there is no official means to convert those funds back into real-world currency.

Steam as a whole offers far more than just the Community Market. Beyond CS2 items, Valve hosts an extensive game library, community workshops, user forums, and digital distribution services. While not a separate “marketplace project,” these integrated features—like Steam Trading Cards, emoticons, backgrounds, and more—are also sold via the Steam Community Market. This ecosystem approach is unique to Valve and remains a core reason for Steam’s sustained dominance in the PC gaming sector.

• Widespread Trust and Security: Trading on Valve’s official platform nearly eliminates risks of scams or shady deals.

• Fast Selling Times: Thanks to a massive user base, it’s usually quick to offload items, especially if priced competitively.

• Integrated User Interface: No need to enter personal details into external sites; everything is handled within the Steam client or Steam’s official website.

• Quick Sell Feature: A buy order system lets you sell items instantly at the highest pre-set demand price—perfect for urgent transactions.

• Easy for Beginners: The process is extremely straightforward, making it the go-to option for players uncomfortable with third-party platforms.

• High Transaction Fees: Approximately 15% total for CS2 items, significantly higher than third-party marketplaces.

• No Real-Money Cash Outs: Steam Wallet funds cannot be withdrawn as cash, limiting their use to purchases within Steam.

• Generally Higher Item Prices: Because users cannot cash out, sellers often list items at higher prices to compensate for the inability to earn real currency.

• Limited Supply of High-Tier Items: Super-rare skins like the AWP Dragon Lore may be out of stock, pushing serious collectors toward platforms with broader listings.

• Regional Price Variation: Though not always an issue, currency conversions and local pricing can sometimes make items more expensive in certain regions.

An often-overlooked benefit of the Steam Community Market is the buy order feature, where users can place an automated request to purchase specific items at or below a certain price. Traders frequently use this approach to snap up skins at more favorable rates, although supply fluctuates based on market demand.

Valve’s ecosystem integrates user-generated content and game support, including workshop submissions and official community features. This unified experience bolsters Steam’s user engagement, as people can level up their Steam profiles with trading cards or show off new cosmetic items—reinforcing the value of in-platform transactions despite the higher fee structure.