He claims, in fact, not to store any incriminating data on hard drives or USB drives at all, encrypted or not, and declined to explain further how he pulls off this apparent magic trick. DeSnake also claims to have prepared a USB-based “kill switch” device designed to wipe his computers’ memory and shut them off in seconds if they ever leave his control. In an extended chat interview, DeSnake tells WIRED how he walked away unscathed from the takedown of AlphaBay, why he has resurfaced now, and what his plans are for the resurrected, once-dominant online black market. He communicated with WIRED via encrypted text messages, from a frequently changing series of pseudonymous accounts, after proving his identity by signing a public message with DeSnake’s original PGP key, which multiple security researchers verified.
For those navigating the darknet in 2024, AlphaBay’s legacy serves as both a warning and a reminder of the precarious nature of illegal online marketplaces. ASAP Market offers 25,000+ listings and $4 million monthly across BTC, XMR, LTC, and USDT, with a 7% share. Its 14,000+ users and 1,000+ vendors leverage multi-crypto flexibility for seamless darknet trading. Archetyp Market delivers 28,000+ listings and $3.5 million in monthly trades using BTC and XMR, securing a 6% market share. With 12,000+ users and 900+ vendors, it boasts a 95% vendor rating—ideal for quality-focused dark pool trading. Incognito’s all about keeping things easy and safe—perfect if you’re avoiding street buys.
OnionLand Search
If you’re into a darknet market with a community pulse and solid uptime, Bohemia Dark Market’s climbing the ranks—give it a spin if you like a vibe that’s less corporate, more crew. Torrez Market powers 30,000+ listings and $6 million monthly trades with BTC and XMR, securing a 9% share. Its 16,000+ users and 1,500+ vendors make it a vibrant hub for darknet marketplace diversity.
- The decentralization plan, for instance, would require collective buy-in from a large number of developers and network operators for what would likely be seen as an essentially illegal project.
- In 2025, 95% of markets prefer XMR over BTC’s public ledger, with transaction volume up 60% since 2023.
- Further down the road, DeSnake will get to demoing the project and bringing on a marketing team.
- Apart from the dark web markets that are operating online today, some raided platforms influenced many markets.
- He was held by the Royal Thai Police for approximately seven days before apparently committing suicide while in custody on 12 July 2017.
Why Monero Over Bitcoin?
Torzon offers a premium account option for additional benefits and is valued at approximately $15 million, accepting payments in Bitcoin (BTC) and Monero (XMR). WeTheNorth is a Canadian market established in 2021 that also serves international users. It offers counterfeit documents, financial fraud tools, hacking and malware services. It has an active forum and community along with an extensive user vetting process. Some dark web marketplaces even host content that’s not just illegal but extremely harmful, so it’s really important to understand the risks before diving in. The story of dark web marketplaces kicks off with Silk Road, launched in 2011.
Buy Staff
Administration is the same as before but all staff members have been replaced for security reasons. Trusted members have been chosen to be moderators, people which I have verified through business dealings over many years. Several big changes have been made to how Staff works, given our past experience, which leads to increased productivity and much faster response times in both support tickets and disputes. AlphaBay boasts with unparalleled safety, ease of use and arguably the best staff team to facilitate all your deals. From a management perspective you will be governed by a mature administration with over 20 years of experience in computer security alone, underground businesses, darknet market management, customer support and most importantly evading Law Enforcement (LE).
Two Prongs For Two Darknet Shutdowns
2023 Recap” for more insights on new players. On 5th July 2017 the royal Thai police arrested a Canadian citizen, Alexandre Cazes in Bangkok, Thailand.
Key Aspects Of AlphaBay
After AlphaBay closed, Abacus Market took its place as the world’s largest underground darknet marketplaces. Abacus Market quickly rose to prominence by attracting former AlphaBay users and providing a comprehensive platform for a wide range of illicit activities. Established in 2019, Versus quickly gained a reputation for a user-friendly UI and intuitive search options.
Alphabay Onion Speed 95%
Established in 2019, Russian Market is a well-known and highly regarded data store on the dark web, specializing in the sale of PII and various forms of stolen data. Despite its name, the marketplace operates primarily in English and serves a global audience. It has gained a reputation for being a reliable source of high-quality data for cybercriminals. It is a hub for financial cybercrime and offers a wide range of illicit services and stolen data that cater to sophisticated cybercriminals.
Tor2door’s a standout since 2020 with 20,000+ listings and a custom design that’s not off-the-shelf junk. BTC and Monero accepted, with multi-signature escrow and global shipping—vendors love it, and I’ve seen why after snagging some rare stuff hassle-free. Drugs dominate, but digital goods are picking up—ties into the Telegram trend with side hustles.
I’ve used it a few times, and it’s never let me down—great for folks who like their dark web with a modern twist. Telegram’s creeping into the darknet scene—not full markets, but vendor channels. I’ve stumbled on groups pushing everything from scripts to gear, often linking back to spots like Tor2door. Some fake sellers take your crypto and never ship what you ordered, or phishing sites that look like real marketplaces but steal your login info. And then there’s malware—click the wrong link or download the wrong file, and your device could get infected.
Incognito Enhances Security
DeSnake counters that if law enforcement had gotten to him and launched the new AlphaBay as a honeypot, they would have simply reused the original AlphaBay’s code. And he points out that the Monero-only restriction for the site would make it far less effective for trapping unsuspecting dark web buyers than a site that simply accepts Bitcoin. On our Alphabay darknet site, registration of new users is gradual, thanks to which people get a positive experience. The investigation into AlphaBay revealed that numerous vendors sold fentanyl and heroin, and there have been multiple overdose deaths across the country attributed to purchases on the site.
Authorities also simultaneously executed search warrants for the market’s server hardware located in Quebec, Canada. On 7th August 2021 DeSnake re-opened AlphaBay for business after having his identity verified by PGP, forum admins, ex-AlphaBay staff members (those not caught) and multiple security researchers. Complete the captcha to get your Alphabay Link, this is a Anti-DDoS measure. Monero’s privacy beats Bitcoin’s traceability—BTC usage dropped 40% since 2023 due to tracking risks. Use Tor Browser from torproject.org for safe onion routing—update regularly.
AlphaBay’s Monero-only policy does not seem to have deterred or hindered buyers and vendors from operating in the marketplace, which most popularly boasts drug offerings. Cannabis, stimulants, and psychedelics hold the current top three spots, and account for the majority of the current 33,000 drug-related listings. Today’s version of AlphaBay experienced a relatively slow start, as vendors and buyers questioned the nature of this relaunch, wary of law enforcement involvement. DeSnake’s eagerness to launch AlphaBay with increased security measures, like AlphaGuard and a decentralization project—an effort to sidestep whatever operational security Cazes blundered, eventually leading to his detainment—was met with some skepticism.
