Gamer Sells 20,000 Steam Trading Cards to Purchase Steam Deck

In an unconventional quest to acquire a Steam Deck, one individual embarked on a unique journey to fund his purchase solely through the sale of Steam trading cards. By appealing to the community, he requested anyone with extra cards to send them his way. Remarkably, after offloading over 20, 000 cards, he successfully achieved his goal.

Known primarily in the competitive gaming scene as a skilled Smash player, Ringler first reached out to his followers on February 2, 2025. His intent was clear: he aimed to secure a Steam Deck through an unorthodox method.

My goal is to buy a steam deck entirely with trading cards

— The Soverign Netizen (@Ringler_SSBM) February 3, 2025

This single tweet ignited a widespread initiative, leading thousands to contribute their surplus trading cards to assist Ringler in reaching his aspiration.

Revolutionizing Fundraising in the Gaming Community

For those unfamiliar with the landscape of Steam trading cards, most are of minimal value, often trading for mere cents. Cards priced above 10 cents are a rare find, meaning Ringler faced the significant task of selling a vast number of cards to gather enough funds for a Steam Deck.

As the influx of cards grew, the volume became overwhelming, leading Ringler to automate his trading and card selling processes. At one point, he was selling five cards every second.

His inventory eventually exceeded 20, 000 cards, a feat he ultimately achieved through persistent effort and community support.

LETS GOOOOO WE CROSSED THE PRICE FOR THE BASE MODEL. Heading to the gym for a bit (incline bench and zercher squats) but when I’m back I’ll be catching up with dms/thanking people. Steam makes trade history pretty easy so I can to have a big thank you post or something cooler pic.twitter.com/Pc2EW0DG3g

— The Soverign Netizen (@Ringler_SSBM) February 5, 2025

The sheer volume of transactions placed a strain on his Steam account, leading to temporary suspensions and the need for VPN usage to bypass account flags from the platform. Despite these challenges, Ringler persevered and managed to earn over $650 solely through the trading card sales.

Not only did this amount cover the cost of the base Steam Deck, but it also allowed him to purchase a premium OLED model with 1TB of storage. What began as a simple desire to play *Binding of Isaac* in a comfortable setting evolved into a remarkable and intricate fundraising story.

Recognizing the eccentricity of his methods, Ringler humorously remarked about his endeavor, suggesting that he was “crashing Steam’s economy” amidst the flood of trading cards pouring in.

In an impressive display of community spirit, his campaign generated over $600 in just four days—astoundingly more than his total earnings in nearly a decade of competitive Smash Bros. Melee.

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