Counter-Strike 2 Player With $1.7 Million Inventory Banned Over Alleged Money Laundering

A Chinese Counter-Strike 2 player known by the nickname King has had his account permanently banned, locking away an inventory estimated to be worth around $1.7 million in cosmetic items.

A Frozen Fortune of Rare Skins

According to esports blogger olafkswg, King’s collection included nearly 200 ultra-rare skins along with eight Katowice 2014 stickers, some of the most coveted items in CS history. Each of these stickers alone can sell for tens of thousands of dollars on the market. With the ban in place, all of King’s items are now frozen, meaning he cannot trade, sell, or transfer them to another account.

Valve’s Accusation

In a letter addressed to the player, Valve accused King of participating in a money-laundering scheme. The company highlighted violations involving the use of stolen credit cards and third-party accounts, both of which are strictly forbidden on the platform.

Possible Appeal

Despite the ban, King has not been left without options. Steam Support has reportedly allowed him the opportunity to file an appeal, though it remains unclear whether Valve will overturn the decision given the severity of the allegations.

The Bigger Picture

This case underscores the high-stakes economy of Counter-Strike 2 skins, where some inventories rival luxury assets in value. With items as rare and expensive as Katowice 2014 stickers involved, the controversy has drawn significant attention from both the CS community and collectors alike.