On July 15, 2025, Valve released a major update to Counter-Strike 2 that introduces a groundbreaking change to the game’s skin trading system. For the first time, players now have the ability to reverse skin trades within a seven-day window. This new feature, known as Trade Protection, is designed to combat scams, account hijackings, and unauthorized trades.
What Is Trade Protection?
Trade Protection is a security system applied to all CS2 items involved in trades. Once a trade is completed, any skins exchanged become “Trade Protected” for seven days. During this period, players can reverse the trade and recover their items—no questions asked.
Here’s how it works:
- Reversal Window: You can undo a trade involving CS2 skins within seven days of the transaction.
- Reversal Scope: When you choose to reverse a trade, all trades involving the protected items within that period are undone. This means every item in the trade will be returned to its original owner.
- How to Reverse: Players can initiate a reversal from their Steam Trade History page.
- Consequence of Reversal: If you choose to reverse a trade, your account will be locked from trading and using the Steam Community Market for 30 days.
Which Items Are Affected?
- The Trade Protection system currently applies only to CS2 items.
- You cannot trade CS2 items together with non-CS2 items (like TF2 or Dota 2 skins) in a single trade while using this system.
- CS2 items that are under Trade Protection cannot be retraded, modified, or listed on the market during the protection period.
What does that mean for SkinBaron?
For sellers: When you trade items to us to offer them for sale, those items will be trade protected for 7 days. After 7 days the items will be offered and visible on the marketplace. You can find offers in this state under “Sales”.
For buyers: You will receive all items immediately, just like before.
In-Game: You will be able to equip them, but they cannot be consumed, modified or transferred, as long as the 7 day period is not expired.
Why Valve Made This Change
Valve’s primary motivation appears to be security. With the growing number of phishing attempts, social engineering scams, and account compromises, high-value skin inventories are frequent targets. The reversal feature adds a much-needed safety net, allowing legitimate users to recover from fraudulent trades or unauthorized account access.
Community Reaction
The update has sparked significant debate within the CS2 community. While many welcome the added layer of protection, especially those who have experienced scams in the past, the trading community and third-party marketplaces are raising concerns.
Critics argue that:
- The market may destabilize due to uncertainty during the seven-day reversal window.
- High-value trades are now riskier for sellers, who may deliver an item only to have it revoked days later.
- Trusted third-party marketplaces may need to overhaul their systems to include escrow periods or additional verification steps.
Impact on the CS2 Economy
This update has the potential to fundamentally change how CS2 skins are traded:
- Slower trading cycles: With a mandatory seven-day cooldown, players and traders will no longer be able to flip items instantly.
- New risk management: Buyers will be more cautious and may require assurance that an item is no longer protected before completing a transaction.
- Reduced scam success rate: Reversal capability makes it far more difficult for scammers to profit from quick trades.
Key Takeaways
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Reversal Timeframe | Within 7 days of trade |
| Affected Items | CS2 skins only |
| Usage Restriction on Protected Items | Cannot be traded, modified, or listed during 7-day window |
| Penalty for Reversal | 30-day trade and market ban on initiating account |
For further insight we recommend reading the Steam FAQ for this new security feature, which you can find here: https://help.steampowered.com/de/faqs/view/365F-4BEE-2AE2-7BDD
