Dark web markets refer to a hotbed for criminals offering everything from drugs to weapons. However, some high-profile markets were shut down last year by law enforcement. But some legit and popular markets are still active and playing the main role in the dark web economy. This post shares a detail about the dark web marketplaces, how they work, what is sold there, and some of the popular markets.
About Dark Web Markets
A dark web market is an online shop like eBay or Amazon. You can’t find these hidden markets with regular search engines as run on a hidden part of the internet. However, there is a twist the dark web marketplaces basically sell items or services that are not legal or severely regulated. Here you can also find legal items such as art or jewelry – they are not always stolen like occurrences and rare.
How Dark Web Markets Work
The dark web and its markets function on a technical level that especially changes from the surface web. Here we have shared how the dark web world and its marketplace operate.
Anonymity Via TOR
The dark web totally depends on the TOR – The Onion Router. It is a privacy-focused network that conceals users’ identities and locations. TOR network routes the user’s traffic via a series of volunteer-operated servers known as Node. When a user accesses a website via tor the connections are recoiled via multiple nodes covering the source of the traffic. On every node, the encryption layer is used to make a multi-layer onion of security.
Navigate to The Dark Web World
Users have to download and arrange the Tor Browser to access the dark web network. Tor allows access to .onion domain extensions which are specific to the Tor network. These domains can’t be set by conventional DNS servers, contributing to the hidden nature of the dark web.
Underground Services
Dark web markets and various services within the dark web are hosted as hidden or underground services. It means that the servers that offer these services are only accessible via Tor and don’t have a public IP address or domain name. The hidden services work while keeping the physical location of the server hidden making tracking and shutting them down considerably more challenging.
Cryptocurrency Transactions
The dark web transactions mostly include cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Monero, and Ethereum. These digital currencies offer anonymity as transactions are documented on a public record but don’t directly link users to their identities. When a user buys illegal items or services on the dark web, they deposit the crypto to the seller or into an escrow system. This crypto is held till the buyer confirms the satisfaction of the transaction.
Encryption and Security
Dark web marketplaces use end-to-end encryption for communication between buyers and sellers. This encryption makes sure that communication can’t be intercepted and read by third parties like law enforcement companies.
Escrow Services
Darknet markets offer escrow services to reduce the risk of fraud. The escrow system digital currency is held by a reliable third party until the buyer gets the product or service as designated. When the buyer approves satisfaction, the assets are released to the seller.
What is Sold on the Dark Web Markets?
Any business can trade its products on the darknet marketplace because not everyone looking to buy something illegal. Some people just want to purchase goods anonymously. Most of the items sold on the dark web are illegal or highly controlled while some items are legal. Here are what items and services are sold on darknet markets.
- Drugs
- Personal data
- Stolen Data
- Counterfeit Items
- Digital Products
- Weapons
- Hacking for hire
- Malware development
- Hitman services
- Hacking Tools
- Fraud Guides and Tutorials
- Explicit content
Active Dark Web Markets
Here we have shared the top marketplaces on the dark web active right now.
Abacus
Link: ueokpqhkj3xyyupozf4rpeapynjolzmgjyderlez7ehptm74bpkaesid.onion
Currently, the Abacus market has grown to become one of the biggest marketplaces of darknet. This market launched in 2021 September offering Drugs & Chemicals, Counterfeit Items, Digital Products, Fraud, Guides & Tutorial, Jewels & Gold, Carded Items, Services, Software & Malware, Security & Hosting, and Other Listings. This market allows users to pay in Bitcoin and Monero for their purchases.
DrugHub Market
Link: drughub666py6fgnml5kmxa7fva5noppkf6wkai4fwwvzwt4rz645aqd.onion
DrugHub market released in August 2023, especially for drug dealers. Almost 70% of the market listing contains different drugs having 9781 products. Other 30 percent of products include online businesses having 1696 services, hacking software having 149 services, Counterfeits having 114 products, 259 crypto services, and many others. This market allows users to pay in Monero (XMR) or purchases and escrow services are also available.
WeTheNorth
Link: http://hn2paw7zpqvofsxzwooijoutg3od3vfziqpybrqqycvfnb6jayg4j4qd.onion/
WeTheNorth is one of the popular dark web markets launched in July 2021. This market offering 3,700+ features varieties of categories, such as fraud, drugs & chemicals, guides & tutorials, counterfeit items, digital products, jewels & gold, carded items & services, software & malware, security & hosting, and other listings. Users can deposit in BTC and XMR for purchases.
Ares Market
Link: http://sn2sfdqay6cxztroslaxa36covrhoowe6a5xug6wlm6ek7nmeiujgvad.onion/
Ares Market is one of the most popular dark web markets launched in 2021. This market boasts 160 vendors with over 14,000 users and offers over 7200 products and services. The services and product categories include drugs, electronics, digital goods, jewelry, and fraud. The market supports deposits in Monero and Bitcoin.
Kerberos Market
Link: http://kerberosemtkeqh7pznmv3negqhudxk5po3awdazx5fqgizttr6xeiid.onion/invited/121462b2
Kerberos is the latest darknet market launched in February 2022. this market boasts about 1100+ listings including Stimulants, Cannabis, Ecstasy, Psychedelics, Dissociatives, Opiates, Benzodiazepine, Sexual Enhancers, Prescription Drugs, Steroids, Fraud services, digital Services, Counterfeit, Carded Items Tutorials, Software & Malware, hostings, Precious Metals, Gemstones, jewelry and Others. Kerberos supports crypto coins such as Bitcoin (BTC) and Monero (XMR) for payments.
Dark Web Markets Now Shut Down
Some of the dark web marketplaces were closed by law enforcement agencies. Here are some of the now-nonoperational dark web marketplaces that were notorious for cybercrime.
- SilkRoad
- Alphabay
- Vice City
- Mellow
- Kingdom Market
- World Market
- Omicron
- Torrez Market
- Genesis
- Tor2door Market
- Aurora Market
For now, that’s all if you know other dark web markets let us know in the comment box.