This is an invite-only market where the items listed for sale are known as “bots.” Each bot on Genesis contains stolen information that’s kept up to date through the use of malware that silently lurks on victims’ systems. Web injects often take the form of adversary in the browser (AitB) attacks where an unsuspecting user installs a trojan horse on their smartphone. InTheBox features over 400 custom “web injects” that threat actors can buy and use to hack into different mobile apps and services. Threat actors and aspiring cybercriminals have been flocking to Telegram channels and groups hoping to benefit from even better anonymity and default end-to-end encryption.
Torrez Market earns its top-tier status at #8 with the largest vendor network in our rankings—1,500+ strong—and a robust $6 million monthly trade volume, securing a 9% market share. Abacus Market reigns supreme at #1, a versatile titan that processes $5 million monthly across 35,000+ listings, dominating 8% of the darknet drug trade. This section provides an in-depth look at what makes these three the cream of the crop in the darknet rankings, offering traders a clear view of the platforms setting the standard for dark pool trading hubs in 2025. Vice City’s 18,000+ listings trail Alphabay’s 60,000, but its 80% drug focus keeps it deep there, with prices 10% below multi-category markets thanks to seller rivalry. Launched in September 2022, it’s earned a firm spot with 18,000+ listings and $2.5 million in monthly trades via BTC and XMR, holding a 5% share. Currency balances speed and privacy—BTC runs 60% of trades, while XMR’s rise to 40% in 2025 from 35% in 2024 reflects a 15% jump in privacy-minded users.
US, International Partners Target Bulletproof Hosting Services
The Tor browser, short for The Onion Router, is software that allows users to access the Tor network. With cryptocurrency prices fluctuating, crypto-laundering gangs can capitalize on market volatility to conceal illicit funds, and use botnets to illegally mine cryptocurrency data. Infostealer threat actors specialize in malware that harvests personal data without consent, such as login credentials, bank accounts, and social security numbers. However, rivalries over dark web marketplaces could also lead to turf wars, disrupting their operations and creating new risks for businesses. A budget-friendly VPN service allowing users to access dark web safely anytime, anywhere, and on any number of devices they want.
It is one of the most active and up to date markets and always provides new and updated malware and data. 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. Established in 2022, Torzon market is one of the biggest and most diverse marketplaces on the dark web. Its focus on financial fraud and high-value transactions has attracted a dedicated user base, contributing to its growing reputation and market value.
The Legality Of Accessing The Dark Web
A vendor's overall rating is a cumulative score based on factors like product purity, shipping speed, and stealth of packaging. A vendor's reputation, built over countless successful transactions, is their most valuable asset, creating a self-regulating environment where high-quality products and service are incentivized. This level of transparency is not typical of conventional illicit trade and is a feature enabled by the review and rating systems intrinsic to these platforms.
SmbCrawler – SMB Share Discovery And Secret-Hunting
Torrez fuels 30,000+ listings and $6M monthly trades via BTC and XMR, securing a 9% share. Mcp-scan is a security tool from Invariant Labs that can run as a static scanner or as a dynamic … …More about mcp-scan – Real-Time Guardrail Monitoring and Dynamic Proxy for MCP Servers Dark web search engines have become essential for enterprise security teams that need early … …More about Dark Web Search Engines in 2025 – Enterprise Monitoring, APIs and IOC Hunting Abacus enforces PGP messaging and vendor reviews, while Exodus relies on invite-only access and bot reliability checks. They used “free data dumps” and emotional marketing to build trust before vanishing—an enduring lesson in the risks of social engineering.
Markets such as AlphaBay Market have hosted a significant share of the commercial fraud market, featuring carding, counterfeiting and many related services. People increase the value of the stolen data by aggregating it with publicly available data, and sell it again for a profit, increasing the damage that can be done to the people whose data was stolen. This led to the rise of Dread, the dedicated darknet discussion forum and the news site Darknetlive (since closed).
- To prevent users from DDoS attacks, it provides personal marketplace domains to high-volume buyers and sellers.
- Nightmare Market – a newer DWM that has gained a reputation for its security features, Nightmare Market offers a variety of products, including drugs, digital goods, and counterfeit items.5.
- Looking ahead to 2023, there are sure to be some new players in the darknet market scene.
- Think of it like Session or Briar messenger for drugs/data; no server or middleman relaying your messages.
Darknet Resources
The dark web, or the darknet, is a small subset of the deep web. The deep web is the part of the internet you can’t access through search engines like Google and Bing. It is also used by whistle-blowers, journalists, and other individuals who are not involved in illegal activity but need to protect their communications and identities. Because of its anonymity, the dark web is filled with illegal services and is used by numerous criminal groups, including ransomware gangs.
History Of Darknet Markets
It allowed users to enjoy PGP messaging, open escrow accounts, and make Bitcoin/Monero payments. Hansa started out as a trusted, well-moderated market with vendor vetting, escrow, and a diversified product selection. Hydra wasn’t just large; it was the leading Russian-speaking darknet marketplace for several years. Many people know the marketplace for having a large amount of stolen data, making it a go-to place for people who want to commit identity theft & fraud.
Current State Of Darknet Markets
- These sites aren’t just important resources; they’re like lifelines used to serve readers living under oppressive regimes.
- Just as important, AlphaBay’s Bitcoin transactions totaled well over $1 billion.
- Vendors like “TorrezRx” and “HackElite” maintain 98% ratings, driving its 9% market share, though a 10% annual vendor turnover slightly impacts consistency.
- Tor2door’s 85% trades in minutes set a trend—50% of top 10 optimize for speed in 2025, up from 30% in 2023.
- Its 11,000+ users and 850+ vendors value its enduring stability since 2019.
- In Europe, Archetyp Market, a long-standing narcotics market, was shut down in June 2025 by a Europol-led operation across six countries.
Compare leading cryptomarkets based on ratings, listing counts, supported cryptocurrencies, monthly volumes, and user bases as of February 2025. Supporting BTC and XMR, it boasts 95% vendor ratings, serving 12,000+ users. Abacus Market shines with 35,000+ listings and a monthly volume of $5M, commanding an 8% share of the darknet drug trade.
By 2025, agencies also use dark web search Engines and honeypots to infiltrate markets. For example, the FBI has noted that criminals on Tor routinely reuse usernames or expose device details, allowing investigators to trace them. Unlike the deep web private or unindexed pages, the dark web specifically refers to sites requiring special software Tor to access. These markets use cryptocurrencies and encryption to hide, but law enforcement’s growing technical skills have repeatedly broken them open. Established in 2022, WizardShop is one of the biggest data stores on the dark web, focusing mainly on carding and financial data.
Useful Links
It's divided into commercial links (from crypto services to gambling sites) and non-commercial links (like social media). TorLinks serves as a backup or secondary directory site to the popular Hidden Wiki. Many of those dark web links are defunct, and even more of them link to scams or potentially illegal activities. This community-edited .onion Wikipedia contains a bunch of Tor links to a wide variety of services and sources running on the dark web. Just like in the old days of the internet, the dark web maintains numerous indexes of sites, like The Hidden Wiki.
Top Dark Web Marketplaces – Quick List
Security is the backbone of darknet markets, ensuring trust and anonymity in an ecosystem where traditional safeguards don’t apply. Tor2door’s 1,100+ vendors support its 25,000+ listings, rated 4.5/5 across 35,000+ reviews, with drugs (60%), digital goods (25%), and fraud tools (10%) as key categories. Vice City’s 700+ vendors focus heavily on drugs (80% of its 18,000+ listings), rated 4.6/5 across 25,000+ reviews, with digital goods and fraud tools at 10% each. Bohemia’s 850+ vendors maintain its 22,000+ listings, rated 4.4/5 across 30,000+ reviews, with drugs (70%), digital goods (20%), and fraud tools (10%) as key offerings.
SecureDrop
These factors collectively contribute to the reliability and success of darknet markets, making them a preferred choice for secure drug trade in 2025. One of the key factors driving the success of darknet markets is the emphasis on vendor ratings and product diversity. Tor markets and darknet sites maintain robust security protocols, ensuring user privacy and transaction integrity. The use of darknet market lists and URLs has further simplified navigation, allowing users to quickly find trusted vendors and products. The evolution of darknet markets in 2025 highlights their ability to adapt to user needs while maintaining a high standard of security and reliability.
No, black market websites operate illegally and pose high risks of scams, fraud, and law enforcement action. Here are some of the now-defunct dark web markets that were notorious for cybercrime. Apart from the dark web markets that are operating online today, some raided platforms influenced many markets.
