Indeed, Bitcoin has become too mainstream for criminals as the extent of law enforcement tracking powers have been disclosed. Increased use on the dark web may push up transaction volume in these coins.
White House Market
Buying illegal substances, stolen merchandise, and counterfeit currency or goods online poses significant risks for both the buyer and the seller. As the DNM builds a small pool of users and sellers, it will snowball into a lucrative operation IF the service remains reliable and secure. Besides ever increasing hosting costs, the site will have to contend with authorities, attacks from hackers, and the occasional disgruntled market administrator. TorZon Market launched Sep 2022, supports XMR and BTC payments, has established vendors, and a user-friendly platform.
When it comes to cryptocurrency preferences among criminals, Litecoin is surprisingly the second-most dominant coin on the dark web, after Bitcoin. Perhaps it is fitting that coins such as Litecoin and Monero have high marks in this community. The senior developers of the two cryptocurrencies have flirted with the idea of a cross chain atomic swap. It is often very difficult to get a judgement of exactly which coins are favoured by those who operate on the dark web. However, an interesting report has recently delved into this internet underground and found interesting results.
Unmasking The Dark Web Economy: Key Hubs And Cybersecurity Implications
One notable fact is that the site has changed its domain twice since its formation. This is to address security concerns and to improve its presence. Today, Exodus Marketplace works from 3 different domains, two of which are its mirrors. They also added in their report that “Litecoin and Dash will take their place next to bitcoin as the everyday payment currencies of the dark web”. TradeMed implements a basic web application for listing products for sale in exchange for bitcoin. Get the latest stories, expertise, and news about security today.
- In late June 2025, Abacus users reported withdrawal issues and decreasing trust in the platform.
- On the other hand, Litecoin and Dash will take their place next to Bitcoin as the everyday payment currencies of the dark web.
- It is a wallet-based shop, meaning you must first deposit bitcoins into your wallet before purchasing any goods and services.
- There is no support for external payment processors.Apart from bitcoind, it has no other software dependences other than a few standard OS utilities.
- The illicit nature of dark web transactions raises concerns among law enforcement agencies and governments worldwide.
The Top 10 Darknet Marketplaces Of 2025
- Faced with the decision between profit seeking and self preservation, Abacus’s admins likely chose the latter in light of Archetyp’s seizure and the surge in new users that elevated Abacus’s profile.
- The more proactive you are, the better you can protect yourself against identity theft and other cyber threats.
- Based on our observations from analysis on dark web data using Lunar, we’ve identified the top 7 marketplaces on the dark web in 2025.
- Offering books for free, shadow libraries face the morality question of copyright vs. access to information and knowledge.
- As you can see, those who operate in the English speaking world are more worried about privacy and opt for Monero.
- When most people refer to the dark web, they are thinking about dark web/darknet marketplaces (DNMs).
Bitcoin has been the cryptocurrency of choice on darknet markets since its inception. However, the increased fees and slow transaction times are forcing darknet users to consider other coins. Taylor says the cryptocurrency’s PrivateSend feature, which mixes up the origin and recipient addresses of transactions, accounts for less than 1% of overall transactions on the Dash network. “We believe that privacy is an important feature for users to have access to….but that has not equated to Dash adoption, let alone use, on the Darknet,” he said.
Anonymity and privacy are key features of cryptocurrency transactions, making them an attractive option for those operating on the dark web. When using cryptocurrencies, individuals can conduct transactions without the need to provide personal information such as their name or address. This level of anonymity makes it difficult for law enforcement to track and monitor transactions, as there is no central authority overseeing the flow of funds. The use of cryptocurrency on the dark web offers convenience, trust, and anonymity to buyers and sellers. The adoption of privacy coins like Monero is increasing due to their non-traceability and lower transaction fees.
How Much Is Stolen Data Sold For On Darknet Markets?
Beyond the digital landscape, I seek solace in the open road, riding my cherished motorcycle and experiencing the exhilarating freedom it brings. These moments of liberation propel me to think differently, fostering innovative perspectives that permeate my work. Merging an unconventional background in Law with over 15 years of experience in the realm of technology, I’m on a quest to design digital products that genuinely make a dent in the universe. And with the recent MimbleWimble (MWEB) upgrade, my admiration has only grown because I feel like it was exactly what Litecoin needed to become the ‘perfect money’ for the internet. Get the latest in privacy news, tips, tricks, and security guides to level-up your digital security. This method is called Tor over VPN, and it’s a great way to increase your privacy over using Tor alone.
And when it comes to paying, the site sticks to Bitcoin (BTC) and Monero (XMR) to keep transactions private. Now, that is not to say illegal behavior is completely beyond detection. The dark web combines encryption, anonymity, and hidden doorways to provide the perfect sanctuary for such illicit activity compared to the usual internet, which is more vulnerable and trackable. In a study made by Recorded Future, it seems that darknet criminals’ preference of cryptocurrency is now switching towards altcoins. One reason is because of the transaction fees that they incur when they use Bitcoin.
The Role Of Cryptocurrencies In The Darknet
Since then, he has dedicated his career to writing extensively about crucial infosec, data privacy, and cybersecurity topics. When he’s not empowering PrivacySavvy’s readers to take control of their online security, Saheed enjoys distance running, playing chess, and exploring the latest open-source software advancements. Sometimes, you might be hacked by using weak passwords or even just connecting to unsecured Wi-Fi on public networks.
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If you want to buy something, deposit cryptocurrency in your wallet, and you will be charged directly. The marketplace has a pleasant, user-friendly interface built from the ground up. Its interface makes it easy to identify clone websites and ensures that users always use the authentic site. It’s a user-only marketplace, meaning you need to register to enter. During our tests for the research, we were able to register with a bogus email and a random username. All that one can expect from a deep web marketplace when it comes to anonymity and security.
The reason is the same as why many regular Bitcoin users are abandoning the currency —the high transaction fees that take too much time to complete. Freshtools was established in 2019 and offers various stolen credentials, accounts, and host protocols like RDP. It is considered a go-to site for malware purchasing, providing keyloggers, trojans, and other Malware as a Service products. Established in 2022, Torzon market is one of the biggest and most diverse marketplaces on the dark web.
While Bitcoin is the most well-known cryptocurrency, there are several other digital currencies that are commonly used on the dark web. These include Ethereum, Litecoin, Monero, and Zcash, among others. Each of these cryptocurrencies offers its own unique features and benefits, but they all share the common trait of providing a level of anonymity and privacy that is attractive to those operating on the dark web. Naturally, this makes the dark web a breeding ground for illegal activity. But onion sites can also serve nobler goals, like providing access to information and independent journalism in countries with government censorship. A VPN protects your connection against everyone, not just your ISP and the authorities.
A Court Ruling On Bug Bounties Just Made The Internet Less Safe
These tools scan dark web forums and marketplaces for any signs of your compromised credentials. There is no need to visit darknet marketplaces yourself to know whether your data was leaked. On one hand, it offers privacy for whistleblowers, journalists, and citizens in oppressive countries. On the other hand, it’s notorious for enabling illegal activity, including drug sales, weapons trafficking, counterfeit ID trading, hacking services, and the exchange of stolen personal data.
Exodus Marketplace
It’s also a marketplace for digital mercenaries; you’ll find everything from solo hackers offering their skills to well-organized groups that take on more complex or high-stakes projects. Some even have connections to criminal organizations and, in more serious cases, government-backed operations. In many countries, strict laws limit who can legally buy, own, or carry firearms. So when someone like a private buyer or criminal group can’t pass the background checks or get the right permits, they usually turn to the dark web to sidestep the rules and get armed without drawing attention. Surprisingly, most guns on the darknet actually start as legal products.
However, the dark web is so complex and vast that if law enforcement takes down one market, it pops up elsewhere. For instance, after the closure of Genesis Market, its website came back after a few weeks. If someone has the market’s code to the infrastructure, no matter how much effort law enforcement puts in, it will keep coming back on another server or can be built again with the same branding. On the dark web, you don’t need to be a technical expert to design ransomware, and that’s dangerous. Even people with little to no knowledge can buy ready-made ransomware and launch attacks on their victims.
