It combines non-fungible tokens (NFT), in-game crypto tokens, decentralized finance (DeFi) elements and sometimes even metaverse applications. Players have an opportunity to generate revenue by giving their time (and sometimes capital) and playing these games. This article reveals the top 10 dark web markets dominating in 2025, their unique characteristics, and the critical implications for enterprise cybersecurity.
Cypher Marketplace
Launched in September 2022, Torzon Market operates on the Tor network and features over 11,600 illegal products, including drugs and hacking tools. It enhances buyer transparency by importing vendor feedback with PGP proof. Torzon offers a premium account option for additional benefits and is valued at approximately $15 million, accepting payments in Bitcoin (BTC) and Monero (XMR).
Unmasking The Dark Web Economy: Key Hubs And Cybersecurity Implications
Its focus on financial fraud and high-value transactions has attracted a dedicated user base, contributing to its growing reputation and market value. Valued at approximately $15 million, Abacus Market is one of the most lucrative platforms in the dark web ecosystem. To expand their reach, some marketplaces established parallel channels on Telegram. This further complicates monitoring efforts because now you need to search for the related Telegram channels and track activity there and on the marketplace itself. And one of the most important tools an investor can use to protect themselves from losses or fraud is education, says Lucas Matheson, the CEO of Coinbase Canada, a registered crypto dealer in Ontario. That means knowing the rules of how a digital currency functions and is exchanged.
- In 2023, the dark web attracted an average of 2.7 million daily users, with Germany now leading as the country with the highest number of Tor users, surpassing the United States for the first time in years.
- It supports operations in multiple languages and operates on both clearnet and Tor.
- Some are looking for illegal stuff they can’t buy elsewhere, like drugs or counterfeit documents.
- The story of dark web marketplaces kicks off with Silk Road, launched in 2011.
- It has built a reputation for being a reliable source of stolen credit card data and PII.
Blockchain Intelligence Is Key In The Global Fight Against Illicit Drugs
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. Russian Market has consistently remained one of the most popular and valuable data stores on the dark web. The platform’s activity has increased significantly over the past year, indicating its growing influence and market share in the underground economy. It is a hub for financial cybercrime and offers a wide range of illicit services and stolen data that cater to sophisticated cybercriminals.
One of the most common is the exit scam, where a marketplace suddenly disappears and takes everyone’s money with it. There’s also a privacy angle—some users live in countries with censorship or surveillance, and the dark web gives them a space to communicate or access information more freely. It’s been a constant back-and-forth between cybercriminals and law enforcement, with each new site trying to be smarter and more secure than the last. For instance, cybercriminals can buy credit card details with a $5,000 balance for just $110. As of 2020, nearly 57% of the dark web was estimated to contain illegal content, including violence and extremist platforms. In 2023, the dark web attracted an average of 2.7 million daily users, with Germany now leading as the country with the highest number of Tor users, surpassing the United States for the first time in years.
Common Scams On Dark Web Marketplaces
Security researchers have been monitoring forums within the cybercriminal underworld to investigate the leading markets operating in 2024. Never log in with your real name or reuse passwords from other accounts. Stick to cryptocurrency, avoid downloading anything, and don’t share any personal info.
Does CoinMarketCapcom List All Cryptocurrencies?
Abacus Market quickly rose to prominence by attracting former AlphaBay users and providing a comprehensive platform for a wide range of illicit activities. Though drug precursor sales are still predominantly transacted through traditional, fiat payment methods, cryptocurrency’s share has continued to grow over the years. CoinMarketCap does not offer financial or investment advice about which cryptocurrency, token or asset does or does not make a good investment, nor do we offer advice about the timing of purchases or sales.
🛡️ How Axis Intelligence Strengthens Cybersecurity
Based on our observations from analysis on dark web data using Lunar, we’ve identified the top 7 marketplaces on the dark web in 2025. We developed Lunar to monitor the deep and dark web, including dark web marketplace sites. While some of these markets were shuttered by law enforcement agencies – some took the easy way out with exit scams.
One of the commitments it asks of platforms is to ensure they don’t spend clients’ crypto investments or use it as collateral. As the value of some cryptocurrencies approach new heights, more criminals are looking to get their hands on them, experts say. That includes a kidnapping case that happened last month in Toronto, where the CEO of a crypto company was snatched downtown during rush hour and held for $1 million ransom.
“Once you send your crypto, it’s virtually gone. It’s very challenging getting back,” he said. According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, Canadians lost over $94 million in crypto payments, from Jan. 1 and Sept. 30 of this year. That’s compared to $124 million in losses in all of 2023, more than $19 million more than the year before. In Ontario, victims lost nearly $23 million in crypto investment frauds from Jan. 1 and Sept. 30 of this year, the data shows. The problem is so concerning to police that last month, the OPP launched an initiative called Project Atlas to fight cryptocurrency investment fraud and protect victims in Ontario and abroad.
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.
Does CoinMarketCapcom List All Cryptocurrencies?
The world of crypto now contains many coins and tokens that we feel unable to verify. In those situations, our Dexscan product lists them automatically by taking on-chain data for newly created smart contracts. We do not cover every chain, but at the time of writing we track the top 70 crypto chains, which means that we list more than 97% of all tokens.
