Counter-Strike 2 may soon receive an unusual update. The latest game update revealed mentions of a bidding system linked to in-game experience. If experience can indeed be spent on valuable items, the traditional progression system might undergo a radical change.

XP in CS2 has so far served a purely decorative purpose—affecting only account levels and access to weekly rewards. The ability to use it as a full-fledged "currency" will open new avenues for interaction with the game and enhance motivation for active play.

Experience may become the new currency
The discovery was reported by well-known data miner Gabe Follower, who examined the files of the recent update and found lines related to a bidding system—that is, a system of bets or trades. It is speculated that this refers to the possibility of spending earned XP to participate in raffles or obtain in-game items.

Shortly after, Aquarius proposed his own theory:

Now that I had a thought about this feature, I think it might work this way: The more stars you decide to spend (‘bid’), the higher the chance of getting something rare. That would also omit the ‘gamba’ of The Armory by letting players get a guaranteed item with enough stars. just my speculation, i cant see any other way of connecting ‘bidding’, ‘expected cost’ and The Armory
Aquarius

What is The Armory and how do stars fit in?
The Armory system was introduced in October 2024 and serves as a way to receive rewards—players earn "stars" by completing tasks, which they use to unlock loot cells. These stars have already become the first step towards a more meaningful use of XP.

If Valve indeed plans to turn experience into a bidding unit, this could be a continuation of this logic: the player spends accumulated XP (or converts it into stars), places a bet—and gets a chance at a rare drop.

It's still unknown when and in what form this feature will appear—if it appears at all. But knowing the developers' approach, such findings rarely turn out to be accidental. If the idea of bidding with XP is implemented, it could be a significant step in the evolution of CS2 and its progression system.