Anything from planting malware and stealing sensitive files to hijacking email accounts or breaking into social media profiles. BidenCash was launched in 2022, and since it became a hot spot for cybercriminals to sell and buy illegal things, including stolen card information and personal data. However, in June 2025, BidenCash’s relevant domains (around 145) were seized by the US Department of Justice. One of the things STYX is infamous for is having a rigorous verification process for users that makes it seem more exclusive. They even have a Telegram channel to provide their clients with live updates.
Future Trends And Predictions For Dark-Web Marketplaces Beyond 2025
With 12,000+ users and 900+ vendors, it boasts a 95% vendor rating—ideal for quality-focused dark pool trading. Archetyp was more than just the next online drug market to fall, having absorbed much of the vendor traffic displaced by earlier market closures. Vendors migrated to unstable alternatives such as Incognito and Bohemia, but none of these managed to consolidate trust or operational continuity.
- Cryptojacking involves secretly mining for cryptocurrency via the victim’s device.
- The darknet markets keep on popping even when the authorities keep getting hard on them.
- Monitoring active marketplaces offers early access to malware kits, credential dumps, and fraud tools.
- Since then, local users have had to use bridges to connect to the browser.
- To stop the marketplaces is not a walk in the park as it takes immense effort from authorities like the FBI and international law enforcement.
Number Of Active Dark Web Marketplaces
As mentioned earlier, launching a cyberattack doesn’t require any hacking skills. Even people with zero technical knowledge can buy phishing kits, ransomware, or stolen logins. Like ransomware, criminals can buy software and inject your devices with viruses. With it, they can spy on people, steal their sensitive data, or secretly control their devices.
Law Enforcement Involvement & Seizures
Abacus alone represented nearly 5 per cent of total DNM revenue, underscoring the ongoing scale of underground commerce. BidenCash and other exit-scam markets such as Torzon and Kingdom Market collapsed between 2022 and 2024. They used “free data dumps” and emotional marketing to build trust before vanishing—an enduring lesson in the risks of social engineering. Geopolitical tensions will likely fuel the rise of hacktivism and ransomware in the Middle East. Hacktivist attacks have already evolved from denial-of-service operations to data leaks and critical compromises, a trend expected to grow. Infostealers and drainers will likely be increasingly promoted as subscription-based services, with traffers aiding in their distribution via scam pages and phishing schemes. mark it means it has been verified as a scam service and it should be avoided. Securily offers the ultimate solution for small to medium-sized businesses, blending cutting-edge AI with expert human insight to deliver the world’s easiest and most effective pentesting experience. Pluribus One develops customized solutions and other data-driven applications to secure your business and your devices. ZenGRC (formerly Reciprocity) is a leader in the GRC SaaS landscape, offering robust and intuitive products designed to make compliance straightforward and efficient. Leveraging emerging technologies in your IT strategy can drive innovation and create competitive advantages through the development of new business models and increased market value.|A lot of vendors from all over the world are registered here, offering an extensive range of products, including digital services, security tools, and other equipment. For those who are looking for a reliable Alphabay Market alternative, Awazon Market aspires to become the solution. Unlike regular e-commerce sites, markets on the dark web often deal with illegal or highly restricted goods and services, such as fake documents, hard drugs, and hacking services. Sure, you might come across listings for legit products like handcrafted jewelry or digital art, but those are few and far between.}
What We Can Expect From The Dark Web And Cybercrime Ecosystem This Year?
In addition, several fake websites impersonate the famous dark net marketplace to obtain your financial and personal information and use it for malicious purposes. We’ve heard a lot about the Dark Web in recent years — but how much do we really know about this mysterious part of the internet? In this overview of recent Dark Web statistics, we’ll start by examining the darknet in the context of the World Wide Web.
Dark Web’s Share Of Global Internet Traffic
For instance, whistleblowers, journalists, and activists may use the dark web to communicate securely and anonymously. Using trusted directories, PGP encryption, and secure wallets helps protect against fraud. Since these markets operate in hidden networks, scams and security risks are common.
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. Despite growing crackdowns from law enforcement agencies, the dark web remains a hotbed of criminal activity, offering everything from drugs to stolen data.
We The North Market (Best For Secure Transactions & Low Fees)
However, you must wait some time to reassess this marketplace because it’s been shut down. It issued a press release revealing that, from December 2021, the website won’t be functional anymore. The website allows visitors to view all the goods and services on display before they buy something. The quantity, price, and characteristics of the product are all provided. However, the platform lacks an advanced search option and a wallet-free payment option. The vendors aren’t required to register or apply for a vendor account while using this platform.
In fact, everything is in English, and the site picks up users everywhere in the world. People visit this market to buy stolen credit cards, personal data, remote desktop account credentials, and logs gathered from information-stealing malware. Classic darknet markets sell diverse illegal goods; data stores focus on leaked or stolen data like credentials, databases, and ID records.
Protecting Your Organization From Dark Web Threats
Like most of the markets, STYX supports Bitcoin (BTC), Monero (XMR), and other crypto tokens to keep everyone’s identity hidden on this marketplace. The marketplace supports multiple payment methods, including Bitcoin (BTC), Litecoin (LTC), and Cryptocheck. They add new batches of stolen data every other week, and there’s even a bidding system where buyers can place offers on new data batches as soon as they become available. The dark web is a hidden section of the internet that you cannot reach with common search engines like Bing or Google.
Specialized Marketplaces
Its intuitive interface and advanced search features make it easy to find local and global products. The marketplace extensively vets vendors listed within its deep web environment that offer a wide range of product portfolios, including security solutions, digital services, and specialized equipment. It stands as a reliable alternative to the defunct Alphabay Market as it continues to position itself as the premier source for advanced privacy-focused digital commerce. As cyber threats continue to escalate, particularly in regions like the Middle East, the landscape of cybercrime remains dynamic and ever-evolving. The predictions for 2025 suggest a continued focus on ransomware, hacktivism, and the proliferation of malware-as-a-service models, underscoring the urgent need for robust cybersecurity measures. As home to marketplaces that sell items like illegal drugs and firearms, the Dark Web can be extremely dangerous.
According to analysts, the market gradually recovered as the year progressed, with most Hydra sellers and buyers initially moving to the OMG! Retained some of those new users, many soon migrated to BlackSprut and Mega. The internet itself started out as a private network before becoming publicly available.
Tracking threat activity on the dark web reveals early warning signs of evolving cyber risks, enabling you to stay ahead of attackers and strengthen your defenses in 2025. For a deeper dive into the specific trends and data points discussed, the 2024 Crypto Crime Report provides extensive analysis and insights. The future of darknet markets is uncertain, but understanding the current landscape and emerging trends is crucial for anyone involved in or combating these underground economies. As of 2025, there are approximately 35–50 active darknet markets, with new decentralized and blockchain-based platforms on the rise.
