The internet is essential to the global system of interconnected computer networks using the Internet protocol suite, TCP/IP. For example, the world wide web, which can be seen as an information system where documents and other web resources are identified, is carried on the internet. It’s important to point out however that as long as the dark web provides an outlet for anonymously trading in illicit goods, malware, and stolen data, dark web marketplaces will continue to emerge and flourish. The emergence of Telegram as a new dark web frontier also partly explains the revenue reductions in traditional dark web marketplaces.
Darknet markets have been a popular way for people to buy and sell illicit goods and services online for years. However, with the constant threat of law enforcement takedowns and exit scams, it can be difficult to know which market to trust. In this article, we’ll explore some of the most popular darknet markets currently in operation and what makes them stand out.
What Are The Popular And Active DWMs?
White House Market
White House Market is a relatively new market that has quickly gained popularity due to its user-friendly interface and strong security features. The market is accessible via the Tor network and requires users to create a username and password to access its listings. One of the standout features of White House Market is its focus on privacy, with all transactions conducted using Bitcoin and Monero, and no personal information required to create an account.
Pros:
What replaced the Hydra market?
Almost immediately following the takedown, many shops that were previously active on Hydra relocated their activities exclusively to Telegram.
- User-friendly interface
- Strong security features
- Focus on privacy
- Accepts Bitcoin and Monero
Additionally, the United States urges the international community to effectively implement international standards on AML/CFT in the virtual currency area, particularly regarding virtual currency exchanges. Darknet marketplaces are commercial websites accessed by an encrypted browser which operate on the dark web, functioning primarily as black markets for illegal activity or substances. The fact they were being advertised so publicly in Moscow was slightly bizarre. One of the most successful markets is Hydra, a Russian-language site known for strict privacy rules and high-volume narcotics, where transactions reportedly totaled more than $1.3 billion in 2020. Today, buyers and sellers on Hydra and other online black markets frequently transact in the cryptocurrency Monero (XMR) due to its heightened anonymity, according to analysts.
Cons:
- Relatively new market, so less established than some competitors
- Smaller selection of listings compared to some markets
More legitimacy is afforded to a vendor if they have been selling for multiple years, across different marketplaces, and have been evaluated to be trustworthy and not a scammer. Using DarkOwl Vision, the darknet, and darknet-adjacent sites DarkOwl analysts looked at vendors from Styx market to review the vendor’s footprints across the darknet. The presence on the darknet of the vendors will likely indicate if vendors on Styx market are sophisticated hackers or skids.
Darknet Markets
Dream Market
Dream Market is one of the oldest and most well-established darknet markets currently in operation. The market is accessible via the Tor network and requires users to create a username and password to access its listings. Dream Market has a wide selection of listings, including drugs, digital goods, and services. One of the standout features of Dream Market is its user forum, which allows users to communicate and share information about the market.
Cocorico is a French darknet market that sells a variety of items but is mostly focused on drugs and medications. While the site is French by default, you can switch to an English version. But note that not neccesarily all content will be translated, but market entries are which is obviously the most important thing. Nemesis Market is more than just a darknet market, it also is a forum similar to dread forum. The forum section is fairly active and covers darknet market specific topics which are sorted into categories like carding, fraud, FakeID, Darknet Markets and various drug related categories.
MORE: How Russia Could Be Held Accountable For Alleged War Crimes
Pros:
In addition, Hydra offered an in-house mixing service to launder and then process vendors’ withdrawals. Mixing services allowed customers, for a fee, to send bitcoin to designated recipients in a manner that was designed to conceal the source or owner of the bitcoin. Hydra’s money laundering features were so in-demand that some users would set up shell vendor accounts for the express purpose of running money through Hydra’s bitcoin wallets as a laundering technique. In addition to dark web markets, hacker forums are one of the dark web platforms where sales are made. The recent Ukraine-Russia war was reflected in the cyber world, and nationalist Russian threat actors came together in some forums. Just like eCommerce stores on the regular web, darknet marketplaces come and go and rise in fall in popularity.
- Wide selection of listings
- User forum for community communication
- Established market with a long history of operation
Of course, it is impossible to cover every type of the websites published in the dark web. Hence, let’s focus on the main subject of the article, the darknet markets. Obviously, special places to trade illicit goods or render illegal services have existed since the beginning of times. But with the help from technological progress now you can do that comfortably in your chair instead of going to some suspicious alley in the back of the street. The trend of utilizing Google and Bing ads for fake traffic gathering campaigns is projected to maintain its popularity. Black traffic dealers, who orchestrate these campaigns by promoting landing pages embedded with malware installers, have been effectively infecting users through these deceptive ads.
Cons:
- Recent reports of slow support response times
- Some users have reported issues with account verification
- On March 22, Flashpoint analysts came across a message from the darknet market 2easy stating their intention of returning to the cybercrime space.
- This decline was triggered in part by the closure of prominent fraud shops like Bypass Shop, which was shut down in March.
- There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data.
ToRReZ Market
ToRReZ Market is a newer market that has gained popularity due to its focus on security and user experience. The market is accessible via the Tor network and requires users to create a username and password to access its listings. ToRReZ Market has a wide selection of listings, including drugs, digital goods, and services. One of the standout features of ToRReZ Market is its multisignature escrow system, which adds an extra layer of security to transactions.
Pros:
How common is it to have your information on the dark web?
While the thought of having your personal information on the dark web can be terrifying for some, the truth is, if you have been using the internet or any popular online services for some time now, the likelihood that your personal information is already on the dark web is actually pretty high.
- Wide selection of listings
- Multisignature escrow system for added security
- User-friendly interface
Does Hydra still exist?
After its defeat at the hands of Captain America in 1945 and the subsequent disappearance of Johann Schmidt, HYDRA was secretly rebuilt inside S.H.I.E.L.D. by Schmidt's top scientist Arnim Zola, who was recruited into the agency during Operation Paperclip and also formed an alliance with the Soviet Union.
Cons:
- Relatively new market, so less established than some competitors
- Some users have reported issues with account verification
Conclusion
Choosing the right darknet market can be a difficult decision, as there are many factors to consider. However, by doing your research and choosing a market with strong security features and a good reputation, you can minimize your risk and ensure a safe and successful transaction. In this article, we’ve explored three popular darknet markets – White House Market, Dream Market, and ToRReZ Market – and their pros and cons. Ultimately, the choice of which market to use is up to you, but we hope this information has been helpful in your decision-making process.
When did Dream Market shut down?
The market also had accompanying forums, hosted on a different URL, where buyers, vendors, and other members of the community could interact. It is one of the longest running darknet markets. Administrator and prolific vendor Gal Vallerius was arrested in August 2017. The site shut down on April 30, 2019.