00后的“电子黄金”，一夜蒸发140亿

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the recent collapse of the virtual skin trading market for the game CS2, which resulted in significant financial losses for many players, likening it to a stock market crash [8][11][63]. Group 1: Market Collapse - On October 24, the CS2 skin trading market lost $2 billion (approximately 14.2 billion RMB) in just a few hours [8]. - The introduction of a new game update allowed players to synthesize high-value skins from lower-tier ones, drastically reducing the value of previously rare items [14][19]. - Many players, including skin traders and professional players, faced severe financial losses, with some losing up to 600,000 RMB [25][30]. Group 2: Market Dynamics - The skin trading market for CS2 evolved from a gaming feature to a significant financial market, with a peak valuation exceeding $6 billion (approximately 43 billion RMB) [63]. - The market's growth was fueled by speculative trading, with players treating skins as investment assets, similar to cryptocurrencies and NFTs [59][60]. - The lack of regulation and the volatility of the market led to significant risks for investors, as evidenced by the recent crash [85]. Group 3: Company Strategy - Valve Corporation (V社), the developer of CS2, has strategically designed the skin economy to maximize its profits, including implementing a 15% transaction fee on official trades [68]. - The company has shifted its focus from being a game developer to operating more like a financial institution, capitalizing on human psychology and market dynamics [86][87]. - The introduction of new policies is seen as a way to reinvigorate the market for regular players while sidelining speculators who do not engage with the game [69].