The primary in-game currency used for trading in World of Warcraft is gold. Players use gold to purchase equipment, consumables, crafting materials, services, mounts, and many other goods from vendors and other players.
Gold is part of a three-unit currency system. One gold equals 100 silver, and one silver equals 100 copper. Copper is useful for very small transactions, while silver commonly appears in lower-value purchases, but gold is the standard unit players mean when discussing wealth, prices, or trading in WoW.
Players earn gold through quests, selling loot, gathering professions, crafting, completing activities, and trading through the Auction House. The economy has changed significantly across expansions, with inflation and item prices varying between realms and versions of the game.
Platinum is not the primary currency in World of Warcraft, despite being common in other games. The WoW Token also links gold to game time or Battle.net balance in supported regions, but it is an item exchanged for gold rather than the game’s basic currency itself.