The fact that some synthetic drug precursors also have legal, conventional applications (e.g. cosmetics and cleaning products) can give manufacturers plausible deniability about their use in the illicit drug trade. However, TRM Labs has identified at least 20 Chinese precursor manufacturers with direct links to online vendors of banned and controlled substances and darknet markets (DNMs) in Russia and the west. It is likely that payments to these manufacturers represent drug vendors sourcing precursors to produce illegal drugs like fentanyl and nitazenes. Dark web markets have exploded in scale and reach in 2025, becoming the most dangerous hubs for trading drugs, stolen data, and hacking tools.
Topics And Products Sold
One of the biggest winners is Axie Infinity — a Pokémon-inspired game where players collect Axies (NFTs of digital pets), breed and battle them against other players to earn Smooth Love Potion (SLP) — the in-game reward token. This game was extremely popular in developing countries like The Philippines, due to the level of income they could earn. Players in the Philippines can check the price of SLP to PHP today directly on CoinMarketCap. We’re back with another video in our Webz Insider video series on everything web data.
The Top 7 Dark Web Marketplaces In 2025
- TRM experts examined hundreds of advertisements from the Chinese precursor manufacturers evaluated in our study, and found that the top five markets targeted were Canada, the Netherlands, Australia, Germany, and the US.
- Ransomware and cryptocurrency-based crimes saw a significant increase in 2023, with a nearly $176 million rise compared to 2022.
- Launched in 2020, Cypher Marketplace sells fraudulent documents, stolen credit cards, fake IDs, and malware.
- These new cryptocurrency are known as stablecoins, and they can be used for a multitude of purposes due to their stability.
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.
Abacus Market
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. Some are looking for illegal stuff they can’t buy elsewhere, like drugs or counterfeit documents. Despite growing crackdowns from law enforcement agencies, the dark web remains a hotbed of criminal activity, offering everything from drugs to stolen data.
Unmasking The Dark Web Economy: Key Hubs And Cybersecurity Implications
Others are looking for stolen data, hacking services, or even banned books and political content. By supplying stolen data, these dark web links fuel many online scams and identity theft operations, playing a critical role in the darker aspects of the internet. We receive updated cryptocurrency prices directly from many exchanges based on their pairs. Since 2020, 2easy has sold massive stealer logs with sensitive data like passwords, bank cards, and initial access credentials. It supports operations in multiple languages and operates on both clearnet and Tor.
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. Here are some of the now-defunct dark web markets that were notorious for cybercrime. The Sinaloa Cartel is known to use digital currencies to settle debts with suppliers and purchase goods from Chinese manufacturers, which are then resold in Mexico and South America to generate clean revenue. The cartel also uses cryptocurrency to obfuscate the flow of illicit funds, making it difficult for authorities to track the proceeds of drug sales. For even more insights and analysis on cryptocurrency’s role in the drug precursor market, be sure to download your copy of our “Beyond Fentanyl” report.
Torzon Market
The first category includes classic marketplaces, which serve as one-stop shops for a wide range of illegal goods. These platforms sell everything from drugs and fake IDs to weapons and hacking tools, resembling a digital black-market bazaar. These include precursors for mephedrone, MDMA, and new novel synthetic opioids like nitazenes—which can be up to ten times stronger than fentanyl. They can be used as art, a way to share QR codes, ticketing and many more things. The first breakout use was for art, with projects like CryptoPunks and Bored Ape Yacht Club gaining large followings. We also list all of the top NFT collections available, including the related NFT coins and tokens..
Industries That Benefit The Most From Dark Web Monitoring 2025
From the very first day, the goal was for the site to be the number one location online for crypto market data, and we work hard to empower our users with our unbiased and accurate information. Founded in 2014, BriansClub remains one of the oldest and most infamous dark web markets for stolen credit cards, fullz (complete identity kits), and dumps. Launched after the takedown of AlphaBay in 2021, Abacus Market has rapidly risen to prominence.
Please remember that the prices, yields and values of financial assets change. We recommend seeking the advice of a professional investment advisor for guidance related to your personal circumstances. Price volatility has long been one of the features of the cryptocurrency market. When asset prices move quickly in either direction and the market itself is relatively thin, it can sometimes be difficult to conduct transactions as might be needed. To overcome this problem, a new type of cryptocurrency tied in value to existing currencies — ranging from the U.S. dollar, other fiats or even other cryptocurrencies — arose. These new cryptocurrency are known as stablecoins, and they can be used for a multitude of purposes due to their stability.
- This article reveals the top 10 dark web markets dominating in 2025, their unique characteristics, and the critical implications for enterprise cybersecurity.
- Some markets are invite-only or have strict registration rules to keep out scammers and law enforcement.
- No, black market websites operate illegally and pose high risks of scams, fraud, and law enforcement action.
- Watch our cyber team share their key insights from their investigations into the biggest dark web trends in 2022.
- From the very first day, the goal was for the site to be the number one location online for crypto market data, and we work hard to empower our users with our unbiased and accurate information.
Today’s cybercriminals spread their activities across multiple platforms, making them harder to track and shut down.
Florida Woman Convicted Of Laundering Crypto To Facilitate Drug Sales
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). 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. Here at CoinMarketCap, we work very hard to ensure that all the relevant and up-to-date information about cryptocurrencies, coins and tokens can be located in one easily discoverable place.
If You Are Investing In Cryptocurrency — CoinMarketCapcom Is For You
Some fake sellers take your crypto and never ship what you ordered, or phishing sites that look like real marketplaces but steal your login info. And then there’s malware—click the wrong link or download the wrong file, and your device could get infected. These sites cater to cybercriminals seeking valuable data, such as credit card numbers, login credentials, and personal information. The second category consists of data stores, which specialize in stolen information. We calculate the total cryptocurrency market capitalization as the sum of all cryptocurrencies listed on the site.
