As a result of worldwide sanctions in opposition to Russia, the ruble has tumbled in worth—to this point, the truth is, it’s now price lower than a Robux. That’s actually dangerous information for the ruble, as a result of the Robux is a online game foreign money that’s largely significant solely to kids.

Roblox, also called “that recreation your children play that appears like Minecraft however isn’t,” has been round for over a decade. However with an explosion of at-home gamers through the pandemic, it’s gone from fad to phenomenon, now boasting greater than 100 million lively gamers. It’s so fashionable that its digital foreign money worth, which might the truth is be transformed again into US {dollars}, is now price roughly $.0125, which is greater than the Russian Federation’s ruble.

On the time of writing, a nickel will snag you not one however 5 Robux. That price is taken from the bottom quantity of Robux one can purchase instantly from the developer: $4.99 for 400 Robux (the worth of particular person Robux diminishes in case you purchase in bulk or get it from sketchy third-party gold farmers). Since Robux might be earned in-game and redeemed for money, that determine isn’t simply blowing smoke. No less than just a few gamers and builders earn the equal of a full-time revenue through the managed Roblox recreation publishing system.

After Russia started its invasion of Ukraine final week, the total entrance of worldwide sanctions got here into impact this weekend, slamming Russia’s financial system. As Russian banks have been lower off from worldwide commerce, Russia’s already-struggling markets are teetering on the point of collapse. The Russian ruble has misplaced roughly 30 % of its worth in the previous couple of days relative to the greenback. It traded at $.013 one week in the past and is at present going for $.010, or one ruble to the penny.

As Vice seen, that technically means Robux are extra priceless than rubles for the time being. Whereas foreign money worth all the time has a sure arbitrary nature, and Russian rubles are hardly the one foreign money to be price a small fraction of the greenback—one Colombian peso is price $.00026 USD at the moment, for instance—it’s a startling illustration of how arduous worldwide sanctions are rocking the Russian economic system.

Earlier than you resolve to transform your financial savings to Robux, do some investigation. The sport’s digital market is problematic to say the least, and its developer Roblox Company has been accused of successfully creating a web-based playing system for kids. When “cashing out” Robux to {dollars}, the corporate takes a hefty 30 % “market charge” lower. The numerous points with the real-money equal Roblox market, and its impact on hundreds of thousands of underage gamers, was documented by YouTube channel Folks Make Video games in a startling investigation final August.

If you happen to account for that 30 % cash-out charge, Robux and rubles are successfully price the identical on worldwide markets as of proper now. If Russia continues to press its invasion of Ukraine, and the worldwide group continues to punish and isolate it with sanctions, a foreign money for a child’s online game may quickly be a way more sound funding.