Similarly, Blacksprut was hacked in late November, which coincides with its decline from its peak revenue share of 68.5% a few weeks prior. Given the illicit nature of darknet markets, it’s unsurprising that vendors and users would seek to leave a market that has suffered a data breach. The dark web is the part of the internet that is not indexed by search engines like Google. You can only access websites on the dark web using a specific onion link and a special browser known as the Tor browser. There were more than 45 darknet marketplaces operating in 2022, with some of them being relatively legitimate while others can be downright harmful. Most of us have heard about a dark web marketplace where one can buy anything from weapons to fake or hacked bank accounts.
Dark Web Statistics 2025: Insights On Hidden Online Crime & Traffic
- While it has brought some advantages such as anonymity, security, and decentralization, it has also led to several negative outcomes such as illegal activities, scams, and even deaths.
- You can buy credit card numbers, all manner of drugs, guns, counterfeit money, stolen subscription credentials, hacked Netflix accounts and software that helps you break into other people’s computers.
- The results of that investigation were published in a report called Technical analysis of the Genesis Market.
- Many people (mostly criminals) use these sites to perform illegal transactions such as selling banned goods and services.
- In 2025, many platforms have adopted decentralized architectures, reducing single points of failure that previously made them vulnerable to law enforcement takedowns.
To expand their reach, some marketplaces established parallel channels on Telegram. This further complicates monitoring efforts because now you need to search for the related Telegram channels and track activity there and on the marketplace itself. It added that many fraud shops are increasingly offering third-party crypto-payment processors like UAPS via API calls, as a way to reduce their own costs, improve operational efficiency and increase security. By and of themselves, they have not however prevented law enforcement from identifying offenders, arresting them and seizing servers.
The Top 10 Darknet Marketplaces Of 2025
Since 2020, 2easy has sold massive stealer logs with sensitive data like passwords, bank cards, and initial access credentials. It supports operations in multiple languages and operates on both clearnet and Tor. In addition to fentanyl, the presence of nitazenes in the global supply of dangerous synthetic opioids has increased, and China-based vendors have established themselves as the initial source.
Bonus: The Silk Road
Cryptocurrencies, while offering enhanced privacy, also present significant risks. Users face vulnerabilities like market volatility, scams involving fake escrow services, compromised wallets, or theft through phishing schemes targeting crypto transactions. Furthermore, inexperienced users unfamiliar with secure cryptocurrency practices are particularly susceptible to these threats, risking the loss of their entire funds.
Saheed earned his degree in Technology and Ethics from the University of Lagos in Nigeria. 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. That all is for general internet activities, you can guess how crucial having a VPN is when you hop onto something like the dark web. As Telegram has end-to-end encryption and anonymous profiles, it makes it an ideal choice for threat actors and hackers to take advantage of.
Some argue that anonymity is essential to protect users privacy and security, while others claim that it enables illegal activities and makes it difficult for law enforcement to track down criminals. Despite the conflicting opinions, it is clear that anonymity will continue to be a critical issue for darknet markets in the years to come. In this section, we will examine some of the key factors that are likely to shape the future of anonymity in these markets. While darknet markets still exist, they have experienced a significant decline in popularity in recent years. This is due to a number of factors, including the increasing crackdown by law enforcement agencies, the rise of cryptocurrency scams, and the emergence of alternative markets. As a result, it has become much more difficult for darknet markets to operate and attract new users.
Surge In New Scams As Pig Butchering Dominates
These marketplaces are full of risks (security, legal, ethical issues – all of them). But if you still decide to access these websites, for education or research purposes, make sure you stay cautious. From items like drugs, fake ID cards, and hacked bank accounts to more complex offerings like human trafficking, these sites carry all the illegal activities you can think of. Although these marketplaces are continuously shut down by law enforcement agencies, they still work today. Interestingly, new sites get more hype, and it even becomes difficult to shut them down, as they have better security than the older ones.
Essential Security Tips For Using Dark-Web Marketplaces
The most striking aspect of darknet markets (DNMs; online websites selling drugs and other goods using cryptocurrencies), after the fact that they are so successful and exist at all, is how much turnover there is. The casual observer of DNMs will quickly become confused by the sheer number of DNMs over time, and their short lifetimes. The market now has an established reputation among cybercriminals, which means that any stolen credentials for sale on there are likely to provide valid access to systems, services, or apps. The past few months has seen a surge of darknet market closures, but few of them have been the result of takedowns or exit scams. Over the past year, several major marketplaces with total sales of over $1 billion have shuttered in this way.
BBC Tor Mirror
Additionally, the use of cryptocurrencies further complicates investigations, as they provide a layer of financial anonymity. Much like with drug sales, a similar pattern of task differentiation emerged among darknet markets providing cybercriminal services. In the chart below, we see that the DNM Aggregator emerged as the clear leader among fraud shops enabling cybercrime, and Exploit.in and Kraken Market almost equally sold tools used to facilitate ransomware attacks.
Best Free VPNs For The Dark Web In 2025: Secure & Fast
In addition, mainstream search engines also track your searches and collect personal information. Cybercriminals on the dark web marketplace always look for new victims to target them with scams or infect their devices with malware, spyware, or adware. Thus, use the best antivirus software that protects against these online threats.
These marketplaces all started offering crypto money laundering services through so-called crypto mixers. Now, thanks to the scrutiny of one team of crypto crime researchers and Telegram’s ban hammer, it’s gone. As the digital underworld grows in complexity and reach, the dark web in 2025 is no longer just a fringe element; it’s an expanding infrastructure of illicit trade, advanced technology, and escalating threats. What used to be confined to shadowy corners now overlaps with mainstream platforms, and the line between privacy and crime continues to blur. With AI amplifying dark web operations and law enforcement racing to catch up, understanding these statistics isn’t just informative, it’s essential for security, policy, and awareness in a hyperconnected age.
Common Scams And Fraudulent Activities On Darknet Markets
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. The chart above shows that, while values haven’t risen back to 2021 levels, darknet market revenue has slightly rebounded since Hydra’s closure in 2022. The White House market offers impressive features like a mandatory PGP requirement that enables 2FA for the user’s profile and adds a protective layer. Below are the best marketplaces on the dark net that we hand-picked after going through multiple shops and doing extensive research. The browser uses onion routing technology to route the internet traffic through multiple relay nodes that provide layered encryption.
However, Flashpoint’s cryptocurrency analysis performed in September 2022 found that some of the exchanges that received funds from Hydra (e.g. Bitzlato, MINE exchange, Bitpapa,) were also receiving funds from OMG! TRM Labs adds that eight of the top 10 mainstream exchanges that received funds from Hydra before its shutdown also received funds from its successor entities over the subsequent year. L; 5,030 on Mega; 4,849 on Solaris; 4,313 on Blacksprut; and 2,095 on Kraken, which was a late addition to the competition. The forum for the site boasted more than 28,000 users, with 150 joining every day. One of the site’s founders, Verto, previously ran Tor Carding Forums, where stolen credit card data was shifted around, so it may not come as a surprise to some that Evo might have been a very well-executed scam.
Sanctioning the various actors in the global cryptocurrency laundering and cashout ecosystem has caused disruptions for these services. Yes, law enforcement agencies have been actively monitoring and cracking down on illegal activities on these platforms. The phenomenon of darknet markets has intrigued society for years, raising questions about their legality, functionality, and safety. ” This article delves into the current state of these hidden online platforms. In conclusion, while darknet markets may still exist, they operate in a more discreet and cautious manner than before.
But since its relaunch, the developers are focusing more on operational security and ensuring that users can have a good experience on this site. You can find featured listings on the homepage and browse the products of your choice. There’s also a search bar that you can use to search for any particular product or vendor. If you want to buy something, deposit cryptocurrency in your wallet, and you will be charged directly.
