Is DMarket Legit?
DMarket is a multipurpose trading platform built around esports-related digital assets, including CS2 skins. Of course, lots of Counter-Strike 2 players and home-grown economists alike are wondering: Is DMarket legit? Can it be used safely for skin trade? Let’s review the platform step-by-step.
DMarket Overview
DMarket serves as a prime example of how modern digital businesses should be structured. Launched in 2017, the has thrived ever since, showcasing the strength of its concept, and was initially built around blockchain technology.
One of the platform’s more interesting projects was the launch, support, and development of the gaming metaverse called NAVINATION. As you can guess, it was a cooperation with the Natus Vincere, where fans could watch streams on various cubersports disciplines and receive digital drops. Those rewards could be then traded (just like CS2 skins) or crafted into more valuable items. They could even be exchanged for real prizes like NAVI-designed t-shirts, sweetshots, teacups, mousepads, etc. Unfortunately, the project didn’t get enough attention, so it was closed about a year after launch.
However, it still managed to increase the popularity and trustworthiness of the website, which was already a reliable CS skins platform and maintained this status to the present day. It has more than 4.5 million registered users and more than 1.3 million active skins listings. DMarket also has almost 30,000 reviews on TrustPilot with an average rating of 4.3, which is quite a respectable result.
The marketplace has a user-friendly interface where you can sell, buy, and even exchange your skins for the following games:
- Counter-Strike 2;
- Dota 2;
- Rust;
- NFL Rivals;
- Team Fortress 2;
- Nitro Nation;
- Blancos.
Moreover, you can even exchange your items for their equivalents from another game, which is an almost-metaverse feature not typically found on CS trading platforms.
To start trading, you need to register and link your Steam account. In the search bar, you can enter the name of the skins you want to buy and sort the results in any way you like. Another pretty unique feature of DMarket is a comprehensive filter, which allows you to choose specific designs, like Case Hardened Blue Gem tiers, or simply enter the pattern number in a separate field. If you have any experience in trading Counter-Strike skins, the whole process will be a walk in the park.
Is DMarket Legitimate?
A question like “Is D Market legit?” makes a little sense since there is no official licensing procedure for CS2 skin marketplaces. Despite Valve being the only ones generating new skins, they transfer the digital ownership right to the users. The next steps are totally up to the player, so you can sell the skin for any price whenever you feel like it.
Of course, Valve can still intervene in the skins' trading process and limit transactions, as they do with cheaters or scammers, by activating trade bans for the whole inventory. However, game developers have no control over third-party trading sites, so their legitimacy comes from community rating and word-of-mouth reputation.
DMarket belongs to the elite class of CS2 marketplaces, which means it has decent transparency and level of service. The platform reports that their prices are almost two times lower than what you’ll find on Steam, so it makes a lot of sense to buy skins here. Additionally, their cooperation with NAVI grants DMarket some additional credibility, while having official mobile apps for iOS and Android confirm the platform’s legal status.
Is DMarket Safe?
Okay, we’ve dealt with the question, “Is DMarket CS2 legit?”, but what about safety? After all, users want to be sure that the platform meets modern security standards. First off, the DMarket’s website starts from “https” and includes “s,” which stands for secure web destinations by default. Moreover, they explained their security features in detail in their Anti-scam checklist, which will be a useful read for anyone who wants to buy something outside Steam.
Of course, having more than a dozen payment methods, DMarket approved the Anti-Money Laundering protocols and used KYC verification to make cash transactions as safe as they can be. At some point, it can get annoying to pass all these processes, but safety should always be a priority when dealing with real-world money. They also have a 2FA option if you want an extra layer of protection.
Being a digital place for gamers, the platform has added popular cryptocurrencies as alternative payment options, which have their own security features in place. Additionally, DMarket puts a lot of effort into finding and reporting scammers who try to use the brand to get personal info of inattentive users.
However, if you encounter some problems, the only point of contact you’ll have is their email, as the platform doesn’t have a live-chat or phone number for direct calls. Luckily, the support team is usually quick to answer if your timezone is close to GMT.
User Reviews and Ratings
Is DMarket a scam? By visiting a dedicated TrustPilot page, you can personally check what users think about this website. An extensive overview of the negative comments showed that most troubles are related to the slow KYC verification, while people expected immediate payouts. Many disappointed users stated the site is a “scam” because their money was stuck somewhere for a long period, although in some cases the platform may have little impact on the procedure.
Like the other skin trading websites, DMarket has lower prices than Steam, which was noted as a positive feature when you want to buy in-game skins for weapons. If you want to sell your items and receive a payout, extra fees will be quite high, but not higher than on any competitor’s platform.
As for the feedback on DMarket’s support, most people note that their responses don't look AI-generated, but tend to contain too much general info. Still, support representatives try to explain why the problems occurred and what to do.
As we’ve mentioned already, they have a 4.3 average rating, which isn’t the best, but almost 30 thousand reviews confirm that it is a reliable website for CS trading.
Conclusion
DMarket is a well-known name among the third-party CS marketplaces, and even has some other gaming-related digital services. Their blockchain-based architecture makes the website notably safe, but some processes, like verifying KYC data, can get long and annoying. In terms of prices and extra fees, DMarket is a good choice, while their filter for skin search is among the best on the market.
