The Takedown Of A Dark-Web Marketplace

Revenue at dark web illicit marketplaces plunged in 2022 following seizure by U.S. and German police last spring of what was then the world’s largest online bazaar for illegal goods and services. Wheeler, known online as Trappy and Trappy_Pandora, began working as AlphaBay’s public relations specialist in May 2015. “A considerable number of seized hacking forums or marketplaces resurrect almost intact a few weeks after the seizure under a similar or new identity. Illicit trade continues, while new admins and operators of underground resources take even better precautions to hinder investigations by law enforcement,” he added.

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The advertising and discussion of cryptocurrency cashout services and mixers also increased significantly on Telegram, especially in late summer 2022 when the “war of marketplaces” seemed to peak. 2022 saw a decline in revenue from the previous year for darknet markets and fraud shops. Total darknet market revenue for 2022 ended at $1.5 billion, down from $3.1 billion in 2021.

What Next For Darknet Markets?

Our research shows that, like most legal commodities, stolen data products flow through a supply chain consisting of producers, wholesalers, and consumers. But this supply chain involves the interconnection of multiple criminal organizations operating in illicit underground marketplaces. This trafficking of stolen data between producers, wholesalers and consumers is enabled by darknet markets, which are websites that resemble ordinary e-commerce pornography dark web websites but are accessible only using special browsers or authorization codes. Our research shows that, like most legal commodities, stolen data products flow through a supply chain consisting of producers, wholesalers and consumers. The complaint and the indictment accuse Bill, also known as “Vend0r” and “KingdomOfficial,” of helping to set up and run Kingdom Market, which had over 25,000 active listings as of late last month.

Since AlphaBay’s demise, that has jumped to 700 to 800 new listings — a five-fold increase. Hansa was shut down Thursday, according to Europol, which had been investigating the site since 2016. DreamMarket, though, is still operating — and thriving, with a dramatic increase in drug listings, according to Kela. When AlphaBay was still up and running, competitors Hansa and DreamMarket had about 5,000 new listings a week, Kela said.

• For example, concurrent with the takedown of Hydra was the sanctioning of Garantex, the Moscow-based exchange that made multiple transactions with Hydra-linked addresses.
• However, cashing-out the proceeds of their activity will increasingly become a challenge.
• In total, there were 2,158 vendors who advertised at least one of the 96,672 product listings across the 30 marketplaces.
• According to court documents, from approximately January 2021 through May 2023, Cheerish Noel Taylor, 36, and Robert James Fischer, 35, ran the darknet monikers “SafeServe,” “Sky_HIGH,” and others across multiple darknet markets.

Darknet Market News: What You Need to Know

These DWMs, mostly Russian-speaking, have repopulated 80% of the entire illegal ecosystem. According to TRM Labs’s research, these markets reached 24% more volume than the previous year of Hydra within the first five months of Hydra’s shutdown. While police had managed to seize some of his shipments to customers that were flagged by PostNord, Denmark’s the dark web websites main private mail carrier, they’d yet to uncover his real world identity. Malvax ran a sophisticated operation, relying on mixers and other obfuscation techniques to protect his identity. But police got a golden opportunity when they learned in mid-2015 that the FBI had seized the servers of Silk Road 2.0 after shutting it down the previous November.

Darknet markets, also known as “cryptomarkets,” are online marketplaces where illegal goods and services are traded using cryptocurrencies. These markets have been growing in popularity in recent years, and with that growth has come increased scrutiny from law enforcement agencies around the world.

Recent Darknet Market Seizures

In the past few years, there have been several high-profile darknet market seizures. In 2017, the FBI and Europol took down the AlphaBay and Hansa markets, which at the time were two of the largest darknet markets in the world. In 2019, the Wall Street Market and the Valhalla Marketplace were also taken down in coordinated law enforcement operations.

These seizures have had a significant impact on the darknet market landscape, with many vendors and buyers fleeing to alternative how to access the darkweb markets. However, they have also demonstrated the determination of law enforcement agencies to combat these illegal activities.

Emerging Trends in Darknet Markets

Despite the efforts of law enforcement agencies, darknet markets continue to thrive. One emerging trend is the use of “vendorshops,” which are individual vendor stores that operate outside of traditional darknet markets. These vendorshops often have their own websites and use social media platforms to advertise their products.

Another trend is the increasing use of cryptocurrencies other than Bitcoin, such as Monero and Zcash, which offer greater anonymity and privacy. This has made it more difficult for law enforcement agencies to track and trace transactions.

FAQs

• What is a darknet market? A darknet market is an online marketplace where illegal goods and services are traded using cryptocurrencies.
• Are darknet markets legal? No, darknet markets are illegal and operate outside of the traditional e-commerce ecosystem.
• How do I access a darknet market? Darknet markets can only be accessed using the Tor network, which is a special browser that allows users to browse the internet anonymously.
• Is it safe to use a darknet market? No, using a darknet market is not safe. There is a high risk of being scammed or arrested, and the products being sold are often illegal and dangerous.

Conclusion

Darknet markets are a complex and ever-evolving landscape, and it is important to stay informed about the latest developments. While law enforcement agencies are working hard to combat these illegal activities, it is ultimately up to individuals to make informed decisions about their online activities. Always remember that using a darknet market is not without risks, and it is important to take steps to protect yourself and your personal information.