Darknet Markets: Why DeFi Is the New Money Laundering Tool

To analyse the connectivity of the whole ecosystem, i.e., how markets are connected with each other, we consider sellers and buyers that are simultaneously active on multiple platforms. In particular, multihomers that are sellers in multiple markets are multisellers, and similarly for buyers we have the multibuyers. Specifically, to be classified as a multiseller, a user must be classified as a seller in at least two markets simultaneously. The multihomers play a crucial role in the ecosystem because they act as edges between markets. Hence we do not distinguish multisellers by the number of markets in which they operate. In panels (b, c), we show the number of all sellers and buyers per quarter, respectively.

How do cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Monero play a role in darknet transactions?

However, it’s also used for illegal activities like drug trafficking, weapon sales, and stolen data trading. Law enforcement agencies monitor it for criminal activities, but legitimate users rely on it for privacy protection. Darknets and dark markets have propelled the growth of cybercrime by offering a platform for the sale and exchange of malicious tools and services. Cybercriminals use these platforms to traffic in stolen data, execute targeted ransomware attacks, and collaborate on advanced hacking techniques. Nation-state actors, too, leverage darknets for espionage and cyber warfare, capitalizing on the obscurity and untraceability they provide. A dark web market is a hidden online platform where users can anonymously buy, sell, and trade illegal or sensitive items.

Top 15 Best Ethical Hacking Tools – 2026

However, owing to the difficulty of identifying relevant transactions, most studies rely on user surveys17,18 and data scraped from DWM websites19,20,21,22,23,24. In particular, these studies are based on user reviews which carry many inaccuracies, for instance, with respect to the time and value of the transaction19, that further compound error in other measures. Moreover, data scraped from the DWMs cannot assess the U2U transactions which account for the largest fraction of the total trading volume of the ecosystem13. Our team searched the dark web and put together a list of the most active dark web marketplaces in order to assist you in monitoring illegal trade of products, cybercrime activity, and dark web trends in the dark web space. Cybersecurity companies and researchers monitoring darknet markets face legal and ethical restrictions.

Common Illegal Items

Once wallets are linked to real-world identities, marketplaces lose a key layer of protection. Its catalog includes physical narcotics, digital goods, stolen accounts, and subscription bypass tools. The broad category mix positions Vortex as an entry-level market for general illicit trade. Torzon Market promotes stability and uptime, making it appealing during periods when other markets face outages or takedowns.

Top 10 Darknet Markets 2025

Onion routing is a privacy-focused technology designed to hide your online activity from trackers, w… The unique part is that the platform offers free samples of stolen information, often to attract more customers. In this era, it takes one wrong click and all your sensitive data ends up in the wrong hands. Therefore, you need to take your privacy seriously and start by using strong and unique passwords for every online account you open. Unfortunately, the platform was shut down in 2013 after an extensive investigation that was spearheaded by US Senator Charles Schumer. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), all guns are manufactured legally.

• Cybercriminals are expected to exploit trusted company-contractor relationships, breaching contractor systems to access corporate data.
• Alphabay rose to prominence with 400,000+ users and $600M yearly trades, ending in a 2017 bust.
• This data enables account takeover attacks across email, social media, and corporate tools.
• As of 2023, Searchlight Cyber estimated roughly 6,000 listings and ~300 vendors, and attributes admin handles such as “quasar1,” “BlackMask,” and “zamman.” Treat those figures as directional; hidden‑service data shifts quickly.
• Genesis Market extensively used a payment processor called UAPS, so much that the processor’s average inflows fell by 25.7% after Genesis closed last April.
• We highlight that these networks exhibit different resilience regimes in the presence of external shocks, the ecosystem’s resilience being mostly guaranteed by the network of buyers rather than sellers.
• Analysts rely on publicly available sources such as cybersecurity reports, court documents, and research publications.

Key Features of Darknet Markets

• The market also offers premium accounts that provide users with advanced seller statistics, catering to more serious buyers and sellers.
• Conversely, transaction networks obtained from the blockchain contain the entire transaction data of the DWMs and U2U transactions, allowing a thorough investigation of the ecosystem as a whole.
• Abacus Market stands out with 35,000+ listings and $5 million in monthly cryptocurrency trades via Bitcoin (BTC) and Monero (XMR).
• I’ve used it; shipping’s discreet—plain packages or DeadDrops—and uptime’s been flawless, rivaling Abacus.
• To track the transactions of markets and users as entities, the data need to be pre-processed in order to map groups of addresses into entities.
• The dark net’s layered encryption and routing protocols offer stronger anonymity, making onion sites appealing to whistleblowers, political dissidents, privacy advocates — and, inevitably, cybercriminals.
• Over the past decade, these platforms have transformed into sophisticated ecosystems that cater to a wide range of consumer needs, offering unparalleled convenience and security.
• Meanwhile, retail vendors, who operate on a smaller scale, are holding more of their illicit earnings in personal wallets, delaying conversion to fiat to avoid detection.

In 2024, DeFi played an increasing role in storing, transferring, and obfuscating illicit crypto proceeds. Fifth, we consider the lifetime of each entity i at time t, defined as the time interval between the first and the last transaction performed by the entity until time t, denoted by \(\ell _i(t)\). This feature is satisfied when \(\ell _i(t) \ge L\), where L is the fixed value of minimum lifetime. However in December last year a Ukrainian-born hacker broke into the Solaris market’s crypto-wallets and donated $25,000 to a charity for Ukrainian refugees. On Friday the 13th of January, the WayAway team hacked Solaris, taking advantage of a weakness in its coding, and shut it down. Now those trying to access Solaris are redirected to its upstart rival, Kraken.

FAQ – Dark Web Markets 2025 and Cybersecurity

• Operating until 2012, Silk Road’s estimated annual revenue soared over $100 million, highlighting the potential profitability of these hidden markets.
• Counterfeit items are another significant category of goods available on darknet markets.
• The trading volume generated by stable pairs is more than five times larger than that of non-stable pairs13.
• So far, five million people have used the tool, and over 13,000 victims have been notified that their computer was infected, and received instructions to help them make their device safe again.

Law enforcement agencies continuously improve their ability to trace transactions and monitor marketplace activity. Simple mistakes—such as inadequate operational security practices, sharing identifiable details, or using compromised devices—can quickly compromise anonymity and expose users’ real-world identities. Abacus Market has emerged as one of the most reputable and widely used dark-web marketplaces in 2025. Founded in early 2023, shortly after major law enforcement operations shut down several competing platforms, Abacus quickly filled the void by prioritizing reliability, advanced security, and user anonymity.

Halo Security Achieves SOC 2 Type II Compliance, Demonstrating Sustained Security Excellence Over Time

Authorities struggle to track transactions in decentralized systems due to scarce data trails. The speed and anonymity of digital exchanges hinder identification, complicating efforts to dismantle illicit networks. The surge stems from weak local enforcement, widespread use of streamlined crypto payments, and a digital space valuing privacy. These factors allow vendors to avoid typical oversight while operating covertly online. According to the TRM Labs 2025 Crypto Crime Report, Russian-language darknet marketplaces brought in more than $1.7 billion in 2024, continuing a year-over-year increase first noted in 2023. Valued at approximately $15 million, Abacus Market is one of the most lucrative platforms in the dark web ecosystem.

• In fact, WeTheNorth is more of a private club than an open market – something its operators want.
• As these markets become more sophisticated, they offer users a reliable and efficient platform for conducting transactions, solidifying their position as a cornerstone of the digital economy.
• To help Genesis Market victims and prevent future crimes, the Dutch Police created a Check your hack tool that lets victims see if their credentials were sold or for sale on Genesis Market.
• This ongoing cat-and-mouse game poses a significant technical challenge in combating the activities within darknets.
• On the dark web, traffic is routed through multiple server nodes that don’t log activity, obscuring the user’s origin and enabling anonymous communication.
• Markets like AlphaBay and Hansa adopted stronger encryption and expanded offerings to include hacking tools and stolen data.
• The platform’s success was reflected in its growing market dominance, rising from 10% market share in 2022 to over 70% in 2024.
• It doesn’t track searches or store personal data, making it a strong option for users seeking more anonymous private browsing.
• KEY TAKEAWAYS If you’re in a hurry, here’s a quick list of darknet search engines of 2026 list…
• The last several years’ examples include Silk Road, AlphaBay, Wall Street Market, and Hydra, most recently.

Table of contents

TRM Labs reported that TRON accounted for 58% of illicit crypto activity in 2024, followed by Ethereum at 24% and Bitcoin at 12%. The TRM Labs report also revealed that crypto use in vendor shop drug sales more than doubled in 2024, reaching over $600 million in volume. By utilizing crypto transactions, these cartels can efficiently fund and facilitate the production of fentanyl, which is then trafficked into the United States, contributing to the ongoing opioid crisis. Chainalysis had previously identified over $37.8 million in suspicious transfers involving suspected China-based chemical vendors. The availability of inexpensive drug precursor chemicals—primarily sourced from China—has further fueled the growth of these platforms.

Security & Anonymity Model (as described publicly)

And, with an automatic kill switch that guards against unexpected exposure if the connection drops, you can enjoy powerful privacy protection as you navigate even the darker corners of the web. ProPublica is an investigative news site owned by an independent nonprofit that exposes abuses of power and corruption. It hosts an onion site so people in countries with restricted press freedom can access its journalism, which covers everything from hacktivism to government repression.

To remain anonymous about your purchases on the dark web, always use cryptocurrency as your mode of payment. If a seller encourages you to opt for other well-known and commonly used payment methods, then the person is likely to be a scammer, and you must not make any deal with darknet marketplaces 2026 them. Having JavaScript enabled on the dark web can cause havoc because it can reveal your IP address to your website. Also, previously, the Tor browser was vulnerable to JavaScript attacks as it provided hackers a pathway to track your activities by using the session details.

Criteria for Choosing the Best Dark-Web Marketplaces

In conclusion, the darknet ecosystem continues to evolve, driven by technological advancements and the growing demand for secure online trade. As these markets become more sophisticated, they offer users a reliable and efficient platform for conducting transactions, solidifying their position as a cornerstone of the digital economy. The first thing on the minds of many users when it comes to the dark web environment is illegal drugs. In fact, the Guardian referred to darknet markets as “the eBay of drug dealing,” and rightly so, illegal drugs are found in almost all the shops on the dark web. “Over the years some markets … developed a robust catalog of illicit services like money laundering, fiat offramping, and products that enable cyber-criminal activities like ransomware and malware attacks.

One of the key factors contributing to the growth of darknet markets is their ability to adapt to changing technological landscapes. The use of Tor networks and encrypted communication ensures that users can operate with a high degree of anonymity. Additionally, the development of user-friendly interfaces has made these platforms more accessible, attracting a broader audience. This has led to the emergence of specialized markets that focus on niche products, further diversifying the ecosystem.

Therefore, given the nature of anonymity and privacy of the dark web, several stores keep on emerging in the dark despite a continuous crackdown on several others. The internet is a wide landscape that comprises the surface part – the internet that we all know and the hidden portion. The hidden part of the internet is the larger portion that features over 95% of the entire internet. This is the part of the internet known as the dark web, and it’s accessible via mainstream search engines such as Google. Essential advice for navigating darknet marketplaces safely and effectively in 2025. Additionally, where non-compliant cash out points are facilitating the movement of illicit funds from DNMs, regulators and law enforcement may take action to disrupt activity at the cash out point itself.

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The large number of U2U-only sellers is in accordance with previous results that showed that the trading volume in the U2U network is significantly larger than that of DWMs13 (also see Supplementary Information Figure S8). The evolution of the ecosystem of all buyers and sellers obtained from the considered markets and the U2U network is shown in Fig. Although it shows fluctuations, including those caused by external shocks, the ecosystem exhibits a positive growth trend in terms of trading volume. TRM Labs calculated that in the eight months since Hydra had been shut down, the new cluster of darknet markets had amassed $820 million in crypto currency deposits. It said Russian-language darknet markets, which chiefly trade in Russia and countries of the former Soviet Union, accounted for 80 percent of the global market. By contrast, the English language ASAP market, the largest non-Russian darknet market, accounts for less than 10 percent of dark web sales.

Transactions rely on cryptocurrencies to avoid traditional financial systems. Install anti-virus or other anti-malware software on your personal computer to scan for malware. However, if a hacker gains access to the unsecured network you are on, they can easily view your account details and steal or modify your information.

Primary Risks and Dangers of Using Dark-Web Marketplaces

With 25,000+ users and 3,000+ vendors, it’s the gold standard for escrow security and scale. The main types of goods and services on darknet markets include illicit drugs, stolen data, hacking tools, and counterfeit items. Dark markets provide a one-stop-shop for cybercriminals, offering a wide range of services such as hacking tools, stolen data, ransomware, and Distributed-Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks for hire.

The market has built trust among users as it brings vendor reviews from different places and then verifies them with PGP signatures – that way, the buyers feel confident. All payments on the platform are via Bitcoin (BTC) and Monero (XMR) for anonymous transactions. We understand the curiosity to venture into the dark web, but you also need to understand that it’s never safe to venture into this portion of the internet without fully understanding what it entails. The top performers in darknet marketplaces for 2025, excelling in trade volume, vendor ratings, and market influence.

However, in April 2022, this site went offline after American and German federal government law enforcement agencies seized the website servers. It’s recommended not to use new alternative links, as they could just be planned exit scams. The vendors aren’t required to register or apply for a vendor account while using this platform. It ensures the buyer’s identity is kept hidden and accepts payments through cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, and Monero. Background research tasks included learning from past drug lords, researching legal matters, studying law enforcement agency tactics and obtaining legal representation. Patterns recommended to avoid include hiring hitmen like Dread Pirate Roberts, and sharing handles for software questions on sites like Stack Exchange.

The marketplace is well-known for its bug bounty programs and robust security mechanisms, including mandatory 2FA. Nemesis Market is a relatively new wallet-less shop on the dark web where you don’t need to deposit any amount in your wallet before buying products from here. The platform allows buyers to review the vendor’s products and services, so it’s easy for them to decide if the vendor is reputable or just scamming them.

Law enforcement actively monitors these transactions, and users face the possibility of arrest and prosecution. To protect their identities, users often employ PGP encryption for secure communication, adding an extra layer of security to their interactions on these platforms. Law enforcement agencies around the world have been intensifying their efforts to crack down on darknet markets. Recent operations have resulted in significant successes, such as the dismantling of Hydra Market by German authorities, who seized servers and $24.6 million in Bitcoin.

TRM provides blockchain intelligence to help financial institutions, cryptocurrency businesses, and public agencies detect, investigate, and manage crypto-related fraud and financial crime. TRM’s risk management platform includes solutions for transaction monitoring and wallet screening, entity risk scoring – including VASP due diligence – and source and destination of funds tracing. These tools enable a rapidly growing cohort of organizations around the world to safely embrace cryptocurrency-related transactions, products, and partnerships. Law enforcement agencies are effectively combating darknet markets by enhancing international collaboration and conducting targeted operations, resulting in significant takedowns such as Hydra Market and Kingdom Market. These efforts demonstrate a robust approach to tackling illegal activities online.