accountbound

Account-bound refers to items, credits, or tokens that are permanently tied to a specific user account and cannot be transferred to another account. This binding makes the item usable only by the account that earned or received it, and in many cases may also restrict it from being traded between players.

In video games, account-bound items are commonly earned through play and are not tradable on secondary markets. They may be usable across multiple characters within the same account, depending on the game design, or remain accessible only to the account as a whole. Binding can occur at pickup, claim, or upon equipping, and is used to prevent item farming, duping, or unauthorized resale. Some games distinguish between account-bound and character-bound items, where the latter are tied to a single character.

In blockchain and digital credential contexts, account-bound or non-transferable tokens are proposed to certify identity, achievements, affiliations, or qualifications. A notable concept is Soulbound Tokens, introduced to represent immutable attestations that cannot be moved between wallets. These tokens are minted to a specific account and are designed to stay with that account, supporting on-chain identity and provenance without enabling transfer.

Implications include enhanced authenticity and reduced fraud at the cost of liquidity and flexibility. Critics argue that non-transferability can hinder asset circulation, create lock-in risk, and complicate recovery or ownership disputes. Some systems implement partial transferability or “unbind” options under predefined conditions.

See also: bind-on-pickup, soulbound token, non-transferable token.