In the complex ecosystem of Counter-Strike 2, trading in-game items is a major feature of the community. Weapon skins, gloves, agents, and other cosmetic items serve not only to enhance appearance but also as a status symbol among CS2 players. In this article, we will discuss the trade lock, a seven-day ban on skins when trading or selling to other gamers.

What is CS2 trade lock?

Trade lock in CS2 is a seven-day restriction on transferring newly acquired skins and other cosmetic items. After seven days from the purchase of the item, you can freely transfer it to another user.

Why was the seven-day skin ban introduced?

In its statement in March 2018, Valve announced that it introduced this restriction to ensure user security and due to some services exploiting the Steam platform for unfair operations. Although the company did not provide specific details, it likely referred to roulette sites and betting agencies that used skins for gambling.

Has the trade lock achieved its goals?

Has the trade lock been successful? Yes and no. On one hand, many suspicious sites (especially those involved in gambling) quickly shut down. It probably prevented some amount of fraud on Steam. On the other hand, users still lose their skins and may not always get them back. Additionally, trade lock has made it more challenging for honest traders and collectors.

Can you avoid the seven-day CS2 skin ban?

If you receive a new item on your Steam account, it automatically falls under the seven-day ban. There is no legal way to bypass this restriction. We do not recommend using third-party resources for buying/selling skins, as you risk losing your items permanently.

Ten-day item concealment in inventory

In Valve's recent updates, one significant change complicates life for traders: after purchase or trade, received items will be hidden from other users for ten days. The official reasons for this decision are unknown to us. However, it is likely that this innovation serves the same purpose as trade lock — to combat third-party sales of cosmetic items. There is no legal way to bypass this restriction either.

Thus, it can be concluded that Valve is actively combating third-party services for selling in-game items from CS2. We recommend conducting transactions exclusively through legal means — on the Steam Marketplace.