Buff163
marketplace,p2pBuff163 is the world's largest CS2 skin marketplace by transaction volume, owned by NetEase Inc. and primarily serving Chinese users with P2P trading and low 2.5% fees.[1][8][9] It requires strict KYC verification via Chinese passport and phone number, restricting non-Chinese users from deposits and withdrawals.[1]
What users are saying about Buff163
What users love
- +Extremely low prices compared to other marketplaces
- +Clean, easy-to-understand interface for users who can access it
- +Fast transaction processing when purchases go smoothly
What users complain about
- −Support tickets go unanswered for weeks with no response
- −Sellers can reverse/return skins after purchase without resolution
- −Requires Chinese citizenship, RMB account, or Chinese payment method
- −Complicated registration process; difficult UI navigation for non-Chinese users
Price vs Steam (median)
Per-skin % deviation from Steam Community Market, then median across the tracked basket. Outliers below 20% or above 500% of Steam are excluded.
Background & story
Buff163 shifted toward exclusivity for Chinese users as of June 2023, restricting fund deposits and withdrawals to those with Chinese passports and phone numbers, limiting international access to browsing only. This change prompted the launch of Buff.Market as its global counterpart by the same operator, targeting non-Chinese traders with fewer regional barriers. The platform maintains dominance in transaction volume within the CS2 skin economy, serving as a key price reference for traders across sites.
How buying & selling works
Users log in via Steam. Buyers browse extensive listings with pricing history and Steam Market comparisons, then purchase if eligible via Alipay or WeChat Pay (Chinese users only); sellers approve transactions and send trade offers, which buyers accept into their Steam inventory. Sellers select skins from Steam inventory, set prices using market trends or auto-cheapest options, manually approve buyer orders, send trade offers, and confirm via Steam Mobile Authenticator.
What sets it apart
Offers detailed item views including pricing history, Steam Market comparisons, float values, and market trends for informed trading. Supports filters for sorting listings and options like instant sell to highest buy orders. Holds the largest inventory and lowest base prices due to high volume.
Trust signals beyond reviews
Adheres to Chinese regulatory standards with mandatory KYC linking to verified Chinese identity and phone numbers. No public records of third-party security audits, esports sponsorships, or regulator registrations beyond domestic compliance. Publishes no open-source tooling or payment-processor partnerships like Adyen or Stripe.