With a support team resolving 95% of issues within 24 hours and a 99.7% uptime, Torrez remains a top choice for consistency, though its traditional design may feel dated to some. Just over a year later, however, AlphaBay has emerged as a top, if not the top, illicit marketplace. In fact, since AlphaBay’s August 2021 relaunch, the illicit marketplace landscape has been tumultuous to say the least. The first half of 2022 was marked by takedowns, shut downs, and exit scams of top markets.
Kerberos has grown rapidly — some reports note over 1,100 listings within seven months, while others claim 5,000+ listings — showing a strong vendor presence. User feedback on darknet forums is mostly positive, citing reliability and smooth transactions, though, as with all darknet markets, risks remain. Because of the range of goods and services found for sale and the conversations that occur around these sales, dark web marketplaces can be precious sources of data on criminal activity.
Microsoft Strengthens Security After China-Linked Attacks
AlphaBay is currently accepting only Monero as a payment option for it’s transactions and whole market is forcing the use of PGP which helps in the long run with the security. Our conclusion is that AB is currently very well trusted and can be used without any fear of being scammed. Please keep in mind that this is our own review, we do not endorse use of this market. AlphaBay boasts with unparalleled safety, ease of use and arguably the best staff team to facilitate all your deals.
Compare Markets
During the summer of 2017, one of the most intriguing and well-orchestrated international law enforcement efforts in history converged to take down some of the most successful darknet markets to-date. One of these, AlphaBay Market, was the most prominent and popular darknet market since the Silk Road. At its height, AlphaBay’s daily sales ranged between $600,000 and $800,000 USD across 300,000 listings for illicit goods, offered by over 40,000 vendors and viewed by some 200,000 users. Discover the leading darknet markets of 2025 that dominate the Tor network with innovative features, massive transaction volumes, and unparalleled user trust.
Torzon Market
With 36,000 listings emphasizing artisanal drugs and rare digital items, it supports BTC and XMR, offering frequent UI updates and a transparent vendor rating system (90% positive feedback). Boasting a forum with over 4,000 active users, its 5.5% fee is slightly above average but justified by its unique offerings. Incognito Market, launched in 2021, prioritizes privacy with 32,000 listings and mandatory PGP encryption for all communications. It supports XMR and BTC, featuring multi-signature wallets for secure trades (70% of transactions use multi-sig). Incognito’s 99.8% uptime and anti-exit-scam measures (locked funds for 90 days post-closure) make it a favorite among cautious darknet shoppers.
Popular Methods Of Goods Delivery From Darknet Markets
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. Cypher marketplace has been on the list of the best dark web shops for a while and deals with the business of a variety of products and services. The shop accepts payment through Bitcoin and Monero, while some vendors accept the coins.
- After the arrest, while waiting for extradition to the United States, Cazes apparently died by suicide while in custody in Thailand.
- In 2025, Abacus Market introduced multi-signature escrow for enhanced transaction security and expanded Monero support to meet growing demand for privacy-focused cryptocurrencies.
- This site supports PGP encryption and two-factor authentication features.
- Reports from late 2023 and early 2024 indicated disruptions in service, with many users suspecting an exit scam — a common practice where darknet markets shut down without notice, taking users’ funds with them.
- We have never received a compensation in any form for operating this website.
- You may buy anything you want from a darknet market (DNM) with cryptocurrency and have it delivered right to your door.
Real-World Examples: Data Breaches Feeding Dark Web Black Markets
Hansa Market was covertly run by authorities during the AlphaBay operation. In 2020, Empire Market (a successor to AlphaBay) mysteriously exit-scammed, disappearing with millions in user funds. Taking these steps cannot eliminate all risks (exit scams and law enforcement still happen), but they significantly improve privacy and security when researching dark web markets. This trove of stolen data included names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and phone numbers, leaving millions of individuals vulnerable to identity theft. Shortly after the breach, a hacker group known as USDoD listed this data on dark web marketplaces, pricing it at a staggering $3.5 million.
- With over 25,000 active users and a robust escrow system, Alphabay remains a benchmark for reliability and scale.
- A VPN encrypts the data traffic and keeps your activities private on the dark web.
- Below are the best marketplaces on the dark net that we hand-picked after going through multiple shops and doing extensive research.
- Second to all the previous AlphaBay users buyers and sellers alike who believed in us and support us throughout.
- Illegal substances, malicious software, and services related to fraud are just a few of the things that buyers can purchase.
What’s Hot On Darknet Markets In 2025
We strongly recommend using ADR because it is exactly the same steps a moderator would take during a dispute without the need to babysit both parties. Even if you do not reach an agreement with the vendor, you would know where you stand or you would have tried certain options like reshipping/replacement of goods. The system has been designed to ensure quick resolution if needed by moderator by looking at what has already happened.
Monero’s ring signatures, stealth addresses, and RingCT ensure untraceable trades. In 2025, 95% of markets prefer XMR over BTC’s public ledger, with transaction volume up 60% since 2023. Take control of your digital security with an exclusive demo of our powerful threat management platform.
Its operation presented a unique case study on the balance between anonymity and illicit activity, revealing how quickly a seemingly invincible marketplace could be dismantled. The implications of this shutdown resonate not just with participants in the deep web but also with those interested in the broader effects of such operations on the cybersecurity landscape. 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. Renowned for its extensive inventory of financial data and sophisticated operating methods, Brian’s Club is a key player in the underground economy of financial cybercrime.
85% of top markets now use escrow security, up from 60% in 2023—see Alphabay. Alphabay rose to prominence with 400,000+ users and $600M yearly trades, ending in a 2017 bust. The first major darknet market pioneered BTC trading, processing $1.2 billion before its 2013 shutdown.
Abacus Market appeared on the scene in 2021 and quickly became one of the heavyweights among English-speaking markets on the dark web. The categories are well organized, ranging from drugs and fraud to digital products, guides, and malware.What really sets it apart is its focus on security and usability. It supports PGP encryption, two-factor authentication (2FA), alerts against fake sites (antiphishing), and a verification system for sellers. Its interface is easy to navigate, and it has a reliable escrow system, as well as allowing payments with Bitcoin and Monero. All of this has made it one of the most reliable markets still active in 2025.
