Freshtools is a unique marketplace in that it does not only provide the stolen data, but it allows criminals to purchase MaaS which can cause further damage to the victims. It is one of the most active and up to date markets and always provides new and updated malware and data. It has built a reputation for being a reliable source of stolen credit card data and PII.
Decentralization And Vendor Shops (2022–
That premium angle means prices run 10–15% above high-volume markets, but users say the goods are worth it. The platform’s layout catches attention, built to suit both newbies and pros. Search filters let you sort by category, price, seller rating, or shipping source, while live deal tracking and detailed seller profiles—averaging 4.8/5 from 50,000+ reviews—keep things open. Abacus sets a high bar for sellers, demanding a 90% trust score to stay active, which holds scams under 2%, a rare feat in this game. With dual-currency support, strong uptime, and a broad catalog, it’s a model for what a leading darknet market can be in 2025, winning nods from users for its dependability and range. As home to marketplaces that sell items like illegal drugs and firearms, the Dark Web can be extremely dangerous.
Personal Information
Dark web search engines support dark web marketplaces and allow users to use them, but still accessing them is full of risks; they can infect your device with malware or viruses, and can bring other legal consequences. Therefore, you must know how to access dark web marketplaces safely (covered later in this article). Accessing any darknet marketplace is dangerous because it is known to be a hub for illegal trade. In addition, several fake websites impersonate the famous dark net marketplace to obtain your financial and personal information and use it for malicious purposes.
Shuttered Dark Web Marketplaces
Given the explosive growth of these markets, organizations must prioritize proactive threat monitoring. Axis Intelligence provides dark web surveillance solutions that help businesses identify leaked credentials, fraud attempts, and malware risks before they escalate. A Canadian market established in 2021, WTN offers over 9,000 products, including narcotics, fake goods, and digital services. It operates in both French and English and has built a reputation for ease-of-use. Established in 2022, Torzon market is one of the biggest and most diverse marketplaces on the dark web.
Crypto Diversification
Darknet or dark web marketplaces are a hidden part of the internet that surface web users can’t access; they can only be accessed with special anonymity software called Tor. Many people (mostly criminals) use these sites to perform illegal transactions such as selling banned goods and services. 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. As for cybercriminal administration, the category includes inflows from ransomware affiliate wallets. This includes purchases such as malicious software and supporting services which cybercriminals sometimes make using escrow services on crime forums.
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Even people with zero technical knowledge can buy phishing kits, ransomware, or stolen logins. It became the blueprint for other dark web marketplaces that tried to take its place. Imagine trusting a site where you’ve been buying or selling for months, and everything seems legit. Some marketplace operators first build trust by running a legitimate platform. They sell these files for just a fraction of the original cost on the surface web or even share freely, which makes them tempting for people looking for shortcuts. While it might be tempting, remember that downloading such content has serious legal and cybersecurity risks.
Multiple markets emerged to fill the void and, in doing so, created a thriving ecosystem profiting from stolen personal data. ASAP Market focuses on digital goods, software, and security tools, making it one of the few markets without illegal drug sales. Silk Road was once the most well-known dark web marketplace, but after its shutdown, many new markets took its place.
Illicit Activity On Dark Web
- Its intuitive interface and advanced search features make it easy to find local and global products.
- They are predominantly accessed via the Tor network, which ensures anonymity for both buyers and sellers.
- The first notable marketplace, Silk Road, launched in 2011 by Ross Ulbricht (aka Dread Pirate Roberts), revolutionized online black markets by integrating Tor, Bitcoin, and an escrow system.
- Here, you’ll find links to various resources, including educational archives, private forums, anonymous services, and more.
- There’s also a search bar that you can use to search for any particular product or vendor.
Another way to gauge people’s interest in the Dark Web is to examine the percentage of those who look up the term “Dark Web” on Google. Between January 2019 and September 2023, the majority of those queries came from underdeveloped countries with well-documented instances of internet censorship. Pakistan topped the list with 100 index points (maximum), followed by Kenya (89 points) and Myanmar (87 points). The top 10 also included Bangladesh (78), Ethiopia (75), Nepal (75), Cameroon (67), Tanzania (66), Nigeria (65), and Sri Lanka (63 index points). Alphabay Market achieved over 60,000 listings, leading the dark web with a vendor base of 3,000+. Further market diversification occurred in 2015, as did further developments around escrow and decentralization.
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The buyers, or “consumers,” are cybercriminals who use these tools to launch illegal activities. The victims, who are common users, businesses, and even banks, who end up paying the price. If you take a quick look through darknet marketplaces, you’ll instantly notice an overwhelming supply of pirated content. We’re talking about even early access to unreleased music, leaked TV episodes, concert footage, and even popular video games before they officially drop. Just as there are new entrants, the dark web has its veteran markets too, and Brian’s Club is one such market.
Anon Market has a wide range of offerings ranging from Drugs, Software, Tutorials, Forgery, Currencies, Databases and much more. Historically, Legalizer is positioned perfectly for the audience primarily based in Kazahstan, Moldova, Russia, and Belarus. Around November 2022 the Administrator of WayWay started a new thread about the planned launch for a new marketplace called Kraken. Notably, the Administrator of WayWay has exactly the same alias (aka “Kraken”) who described the news of decentralized infrastructure having multiple data centers and nodes for the new project. Like RuTor, BlackSprut also offers cash-out services, including Bitcoin-to-Ruble and C2C transactions.
More importantly, the darknet is a safe haven for people from countries with oppressive regimes, as it allows them to securely send and receive information and access content that is unavailable where they live. One of the most notorious Dark Web incidents occurred in October 2013, when the FBI shut down Silk Road, the then-largest Dark Web marketplace. Founded by Ross William Ulbricht in 2011, Silk Road quickly established itself as the go-to destination for illegal items, particularly illegal drugs. When the FBI arrested Ulbricht in 2013 for money laundering and drug trafficking, among other offenses, the criminal complaint revealed the marketplace had generated over $1.2 billion in just two years. As its contents are unindexed, it’s impossible to determine the Dark Web’s exact size. In fact, the Dark Web is a small subset of a much larger Deep Web — a part of the internet containing all the pages hidden from search engines for privacy and security reasons.
He recommends verifying market employees carefully, and to weed out law enforcement infiltration through barium meal tests. Having regular security check-ups and audits is great for catching vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. Public awareness and education are just as important since when people know what to watch out for; they’re less likely to fall victim to cybercrime. Our goal is to give cybersecurity professionals the scoop on the latest threats that have emerged and the best ways to fight back against these underground markets. By the end of this read, you’ll be armed with the knowledge you need to stay ahead of the game in the battle against dark web crime. Look for ratings below 90% or no escrow—common red flags on markets like Torrez.
Despite growing crackdowns from law enforcement agencies, the dark web remains a hotbed of criminal activity, offering everything from drugs to stolen data. After that, many other marketplaces kept trying to take its place and become the top dark web market. However, legal bodies and law enforcement operations made this impossible and shut down these illegal communities. Genesis Market and BidenCash, two top dark web marketplaces, were also shut down in 2023 and 2025, respectively.
Since its inception, the market has catered to criminals looking for high-quality counterfeit items, such as fake IDs, passports, and branded luxury goods. Here’s a look at the top 10 dark web markets currently dominating this underground space. 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. We’re back with another video in our Webz Insider video series on everything web data. Learn how to automate financial risk reports using AI and news data with this guide for product managers, featuring tools from Webz.io and OpenAI.
