Top 10 Dark Web Markets

The dark web hosts markets like the internet’s Wild West. Sites like Silk Road and Nemesis have shown how deep this underworld goes. The shutdown of these platforms is a big win for law enforcement worldwide, fighting cybercrime.

We’re currently looking at the top 10 dark web markets, places where you can find anything from drugs to stolen data. Abacus Market, Russian Market, and BriansClub are just a few names in this shadowy space, each offering thousands of illegal items for sale.

New markets keep popping up in every platform, including Telegram channels and Discord servers, showing the cybercrime’s ever-changing nature. These sites and platforms challenge authorities, making it hard to crack down on online crime.

An overview of dark web markets (SOCRadar)

This peek into the dark web’s top markets shows a world of illegal trade that’s constantly evolving, highlighting the ongoing battle between cybercriminals and law enforcement.

1 – Abacus Market

Emerging in September 2021 following the closure of AlphaBay, Abacus Market swiftly made its mark as one of the notorious dark web markets operating on the Tor network. Conducting its operations primarily in English, Abacus Market aimed to draw the attention of threat actors from AlphaBay in its early days. Presently, it offers over 40,000 products across various categories.

These categories include Drugs & Chemicals (29,031), Counterfeit items (298), Digital Products (3,348), Fraud (5,470), Guides & Tutorials (4,503), Jewels & Gold (44), Carded items (28), Services (780), Software & Malware (1,242), Security & Hosting (154), and Other Listings (146). With features like a bug bounty program, Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), and abundant phishing warnings, Abacus Market aims to safeguard the privacy and security of its users.

As of March 21, 2024, Abacus Market has been striving to boost its illegal trade by enticing users from the recently closed Incognito Market onto its platform. Bitcoin and Monero remain the primary currencies used for transactions within the market.

According to DarkWebInformer, a cybersecurity and dark web researcher active on X, Abacus Market is estimated to be valued at $15 million.

2 – Russian Market

Since February 2019, the Russian Market has facilitated illegal sales through Tor and clear web, operating primarily in English. This platform serves as a hub for various categories of illicit goods, including CVV, RDP, Stealer Logs, PROs, Checkers, and Tools, focusing on selling Personally Identifiable Information (PII) data.

Infected devices and other fraud-related items, such as stolen credit cards and compromised PayPal accounts, are at the forefront of its offerings. Transactions on the Russian Market are conducted using cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Ethereum

3 – BriansClub

BriansClub stands out as one of the dark web’s most infamous black markets, possibly tracing its origins back to 2014 when it was purportedly founded by a threat actor, Brian. Renowned for its trade in stolen credit cards and personal identity information, this underground marketplace has garnered a reputation for its illicit activities.

Operating both on the surface web and the Tor network, BriansClub embraces a variety of cryptocurrencies such as USDT, Litecoin, Dash, Monero, and Bitcoin for transactions, highlighting the anonymity and financial flexibility characteristic of the digital age.

As a pivotal node in the dark web, BriansClub offers an extensive catalog of tools and products tailored for illegal trade. Specializing in offerings such as Dumps, CVV2 codes, Fullz, and various services facilitating unauthorized transactions and financial fraud, BriansClub serves as a hub for criminal activities in the dark web.

4 – Torzon Market

Torzon Market emerged in September 2022, operating primarily in English on the Tor network. Torzon has quickly gained traction, boasting 11,647 illegal products across various categories.

These categories include Drugs (11,654), Psychedelics (1,576), Stimulants (2,470), THC (2,926), Fraud (1,453), Hacking (29), Digital Goods (862), Counterfeits (438), Carding Ware (106), Services (203), Guides & Tutorials (1,578), Security & Hosting (47), and Software & Malware (286).

One notable feature of Torzon Market is its practice of importing vendor feedback from other markets backed by PGP proof. This practice enhances transparency for buyers, providing them with a more comprehensive understanding of a vendor’s experience and reliability.

Moreover, Torzon offers a unique premium account feature, allowing users to upgrade their accounts for exclusive benefits such as advanced vendor trust statistics, priority order processing, and a private mirror link after five successful purchases.

In terms of valuation, the Torzon Market is estimated to be worth around $15 million, comparable to the Abacus Market in terms of market value. Payment methods include Bitcoin (BTC) and Monero (XMR).

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5 – FreshTools

FreshTools stands out as a distinctive underground marketplace specializing in selling stolen accounts. Estimated to have been founded in 2019, FreshTools operates in English on the clear web, providing a platform for illegal sales.

With over 800,000 products listed, FreshTools offers various illicit goods across various categories. These categories include Leads (355,789), Webmail (273,584), cPanels (12,887), WordPress (1,158), Shells (9,159), Mailers (1,017), RDPs (40,348), Root SSH/WHM (1,343), SMTPs (28,053), Account (13,446), Tutorials (94), and Scampage/Letters (2,868).

Payment methods accepted on FreshTools include USDT, BTC, ZMR, LTC, BitcoinCash, and PerfectMoney, providing flexibility for users engaging in transactions. With its focus on stolen account sales and diverse offerings, FreshTools has carved out a unique niche within the underground marketplace landscape.

6 – Cypher Marketplace

Founded in February 2020, Cypher Marketplace operates as an English-speaking underground marketplace accessible through the Tor network. With over 12,000 products listed, Cypher offers various offerings across various categories.

These categories include Counterfeits (285), Credit cards (71), Documents (138), Drugs (7,516), Dumps (8), Guides & Tutorials (2,137), Hardware (7), Hosting & Security (41), Other Listings (760), and Software & Malware (1,080).

Transactions on Cypher Marketplace are conducted using Bitcoin and Monero, ensuring anonymity and security for buyers and sellers alike. With a valuation reaching $15 million, Cypher has solidified its position as a significant player in the dark web ecosystem.

7 – MGM Grand Market

Established in April 2021, MGM Grand Market operates as an English-speaking dark web market accessible through the Tor network. With a focus on enhancing accessibility, MGM Grand Market offers a customized user interface optimized for mobile devices, increasing its appeal and usability.

Listings on MGM Grand Market span various categories, including Fraud (5,415), Drugs (16,629), Digital Goods (2,914), Guides & Tutorials (2,388), and Miscellaneous (5,051). By catering to the needs of threat actors who previously utilized other closed underground markets, MGM Grand Market has successfully captured their attention.

MGM Grand Market has achieved a valuation of $3 million, solidifying its position as a notable player in the dark web landscape. Transactions on MGM Grand Market are conducted using Bitcoin.

8 – BidenCash

BidenCash, established in 2022, has quickly risen to prominence as one of the most well-known platforms, operating on both the clear and dark web. Like BriansClub, BidenCash is infamous for its trade in Personally Identifiable Information (PII) and fraud-related activities.

BidenCash gained attention for its practice of releasing a certain amount of data for free advertising purposes on various forums. For instance, in December 2023, it was reported that 1.9 million card records were breached, while in October 2022, the platform was linked to allegations involving 1,221,551 credit card records.

The primary focus of BidenCash lies in the sale of credit cards, Personal Identifiable Information (PII), and Secure Shell Protocol (SSH) credentials.

9 – 2easy

2easy is an illegal marketplace that has been operating on the clear web since 2020, offering services in both Russian and English. The platform is particularly known for its sales of Stealer Logs, which contain sensitive data such as usernames, passwords, credit card information, cookies, and initial access credentials that can be used for malicious activities like fraud, ransomware etc.

Despite occasional periods of being offline, 2easy has managed to maintain its popularity and longevity, positioning itself as a competitor to previously shut-down platforms like Genesis and active ones like Russian Market. It hosts a variety of stolen data extracted from numerous malicious software programs such as RedLine Stealer and Racoon Stealer.

10 – WeTheNorth (WTN)

Founded in June 2021, WeTheNorth is a Canadian marketplace that operates in both French and English, accessible through both the Tor and clear web. With over 9,000 products listed, WeTheNorth offers a diverse array of offerings across various categories.

These categories include Fraud (2,641), Drugs & Chemicals (4,938), Guides & Tutorials (1,115), Counterfeit Items (198), Digital Products (799), Jewels & Gold (5), Carded Items (13), Services (154), Other Listings (66), Software & Malware (104), and Security & Hosting (32).

Bitcoin and Monero are the primary currencies used for transactions on WeTheNorth. Notably, the site interface bears a resemblance to that of Abacus Market. With a valuation of $3 million, WeTheNorth has established itself as a significant player within the dark web ecosystem.

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