This is the same concept as EVE's PLEX item, which was introduced to combat TOS-violating real money transactions. In-game prices are subject to in-game market

This is the same concept as EVE's PLEX item, which was introduced to combat TOS-violating real money transactions. In-game prices are subject to in-game market fluctuations, which are relatively stable. Ever since then, any headline involving EVE player shenanigans and a dollar amount is derived from this one-way exchange rate.