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. We developed Lunar to monitor the deep and dark web, including dark web marketplace sites. Falling short may be DeSnake’s push to adopt I2P as an alternative to Tor, as it has not had the impact on the marketplace landscape as expected.
Two Prongs For Two Darknet Shutdowns
This is where Brandefense’s Dark Web Monitoring Solution plays a critical role. No, black market websites operate illegally and pose high risks of scams, fraud, and law enforcement action. Believe it or not, some dark web marketplaces have pretty advanced systems for building trust. Sellers often need to pay a deposit to prove they’re serious, and they build their reputation through positive reviews. Others are looking for stolen data, hacking services, or even banned books and political content.
Started Operating
ADR is basically a proposition system between buyer and seller involving extending escrow time, full refund, percentage refund or replacement options. DeSnake has broken this mold with their dramatic return to the public eye that included interviews with the media and identity verification through a potentially compromised PGP key. One user openly joked they would stick to purchasing their drugs on social media. Like the historic AlphaBay, the market’s forum is located on the same domain as the market and has limited discussions. Most of the forum is marked private until the user formally introduces themselves in accordance with the rules outlined by DeSnake. There is a “Admin” account as was the case with the historical AlphaBay forum, and DeSnake also has their own personal account.
How To Safely Navigate Darknet Markets
On our Alphabay darknet site, registration of new users is gradual, thanks to which people get a positive experience. Our young assortment includes a huge number of goods and services, Alphabay darknet is not only the quality of goods, but also a quick and convenient connection via a Alphabay link. Tor Browser, built on Firefox, encrypts your traffic across 3+ relay nodes, enabling access to .onion sites. In 2025, it powers 2.5M+ daily users, with Germany leading in usage (followed by the U.S.). AlphaGuard is a technology that allows users to withdraw funds and the server hosting the market to self-destruct in case of any unexpected changes to any or all of the servers. Only those with administrative access such as DeSnake had the ability to disable it, by entering a key within 72 hours.
- AlphaBay, at its peak, hosted over 400,000 users and $600 million in yearly volume until its 2017 takedown.
- These ones caught my eye with their tight setups, privacy game, solid rep, wild range of stuff, and layouts that don’t leave you lost.
- Explore frequently asked questions or check recent market updates to stay informed.
- DeSnake appeared on Dread and verified his identity with the original DeSnake PGP key through a signed message.
- The marketplace thrived on the principles of decentralization and encryption, attracting a vast number of buyers and sellers.
Registered Vendors
Alphabay Market leads with 60,000+ listings, a 20% market share, and $20M monthly volume, serving 25,000+ users. Following Silk Road’s 2013 shutdown by the FBI, successors like AlphaBay and Dream Market emerged, introducing multi-signature escrow and expanding product ranges to include drugs, hacking tools, and counterfeit currency. AlphaBay, at its peak, hosted over 400,000 users and $600 million in yearly volume until its 2017 takedown. Despite enforcement actions, such as Hydra’s 2022 closure with $5.2 billion in seizures, markets like Abacus and Torrez persist, leveraging decentralized systems and blockchain resilience.
History Of Dark Web Marketplaces
Versus was founded in 2019, and it soon developed a reputation for its user-friendly interface and intuitive search features. Due to its emphasis on security, it has grown to be a very popular marketplace and garnered a lot of users. Illegal substances, malicious software, and services related to fraud are just a few of the things that buyers can purchase. Five hundred dealers, all of whom speak English and accept Bitcoin, are behind the marketplace’s 8,400+ entries. With less than two years of existence and the widest assortment of listings for both physical and digital goods, Tor2Door is one of the largest darknet markets as of 2022. It has a unique design, and according to its administrators, it built the market from the ground up.
What Are Darknet Markets?
We are not responsible for any harm or loss you may receive by following links listed on this site. Some chase banned goods—like a coder I met hunting censored PDFs—others love the mask it offers. Pills—legal or otherwise—top the charts; one vendor bragged about shipping oxy in hollowed-out books.
It helps us stay more vigilant, better protect ourselves, and make informed decisions online. Despite the market’s limited size, it has experienced some growth since its first debut less than a year ago. Although Cocorico was created to serve customers worldwide, it primarily targets French customers.
AlphaBay, The Largest Online ‘Dark Market,’ Shut Down
In 2017, the website went offline following a law enforcement action taken by the American, Canadian, and Thai authorities, but since August 2021, it’s been operational again. AlphaBay emerged as one of the most notorious marketplaces on the deep web, showcasing the complexities and challenges of illicit online trading. Launched in December 2014, it quickly gained traction among users seeking a variety of goods, ranging from illegal drugs to counterfeit items.
With 12,000+ users and 900+ vendors, it boasts a 95% vendor rating—ideal for quality-focused dark pool trading. Torrez fuels 30,000+ listings and $6M monthly trades via BTC and XMR, securing a 9% share. With 16,000+ users and 1,500+ vendors, it’s a bustling hub for dark pool commerce. AlphaBay was one of the most notorious online marketplaces operating within the deep web, catering to a diverse array of illicit goods and services.
Asap Darknet Market
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. Therefore, for security reasons, disable JavaScript on the Tor browser and enjoy an anonymous browsing experience on the dark net. Despite using a VPN, there’s always a risk of the VPN leaking your IP address through DNS or WebRTC leaks or misconfigurations when on a dark web forum or marketplace. Therefore, you must run an IP leak test to ensure that the VPN is working completely fine and is not risking your digital security. The website allows visitors to view all the goods and services on display before they buy something.
Darknet Market Trends In 2025
The site became a hub for vendors and buyers alike, providing a secure environment that facilitated anonymous transactions through cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. However, its rise was paired with a series of events that ultimately led to its dramatic downfall. On August 6, 2021, former AlphaBay security administrator “DeSnake” announced that AlphaBay Market had relaunched. The original AlphaBay, founded by Alexandre Cazes (aka “Alpha02”) in September 2014, was taken down by law enforcement’s Operation Bayonet in July 2017. At the time, AlphaBay was considered to be one of the most popular and comprehensive darknet marketplaces, selling a wide array of illicit and illegal products and services.
