The darknet markets, also known as the “dark web,” are a part of the internet that is not indexed by search engines and is only accessible through special software. These markets are often used for illegal activities, such as selling drugs, weapons, and stolen data. But just how much value is on these markets?
Estimating the Size of the Darknet Markets
Trust Factors And Hypotheses
It is difficult to estimate the exact size of the darknet markets, as they are constantly changing and new markets are constantly emerging. However, several studies have attempted to estimate the size of these markets. According to a report by Recorded Future, the total value of goods and services sold on the darknet markets was around $300 million in 2015. This figure is likely to have increased in the years since then, as the darknet markets have grown in popularity.
What can you use Tor for?
The Tor Browser hides your IP address and browsing activity by redirecting web traffic through a series of different routers known as nodes. Because Tor hides browsing activity and blocks tracking, it's used by whistleblowers, journalists, and others who want to protect their privacy online.
The users are persuaded to share their login credentials, private keys, or sensitive information, allowing the scammers to steal their funds. The new AlphaBay market’s Tor service has been unstable since its launch, with frequent 503 errors, user registration issues, and login timeouts. After almost two months of operation, the market has a handful of vendors, with only a couple of hundred listings across drugs and fraud goods. DeSnake claims there have been 15,000 user accounts created, 450 vendors registered, and over 400 listings published as of the time of writing. In many cases, cybercriminals will simply purchase prepaid cards with stolen numbers and sell them to buyers on Darknet markets.
Mixers, Exchanges, And New Markets
The Most Popular Darknet Markets
Anywhere you store personal data is a potential entry point for cyberattackers. If you’re in a coffee shop or anywhere else you don’t trust network security, use a virtual private network (VPN) to encrypt all communications. But if an attacker has access to an unencrypted network that you’re using, it’s easy to view your account data and steal or alter your information.
How big is the darknet market?
Total darknet market revenue for 2022 ended at $1.5 billion, down from $3.1 billion in 2021. Four of the top five highest-earning darknet markets in 2022 were conventional, drug-focused darknet markets, while just one, Brian Dumps, was a fraud shop.
There are many different darknet markets, but some are more popular than others. According to Deep Dot Web, the top 10 darknet markets as of August 2017 were:
- AlphaBay: This market was the largest on the darknet, with over 200,000 listings. It was shut down by law enforcement in July 2017.
- Hansa Market: This market was the second largest on the darknet, with over 100,000 listings. It was also shut down by law enforcement in July 2017.
- Dream Market: This market has over 60,000 listings and is one of the most popular markets on the darknet.
- Wall Street Market: This market has over 50,000 listings and is known for its high-quality products.
- Valhalla Market: This market has over 40,000 listings and is popular for its wide selection of drugs.
- Russian Market: This market has over 30,000 listings and is popular among Russian-speaking users.
- Berlusconi Market: This market has over 20,000 listings and is known for its user-friendly interface.
- Cannazon Market: This market has over 10,000 listings and is popular for its selection of cannabis products.
- Tochka Market: This market has over 10,000 listings and is known for its reliable vendors.
- Abraxas Market: This market has over 5,000 listings and is popular for its selection of psychedelics.
The Most Popular Goods and Services on the Darknet Markets
Our Latest Reports
The most popular goods and services on the darknet markets are drugs, followed by stolen data and counterfeit items. According to a report by Recorded Future, the top 5 categories of goods and services sold on the darknet markets in 2015 were:
- Drugs: This category accounted for 54% of the total value of goods and services sold on the darknet markets in 2015.
- Stolen data: This category accounted for 20% of the total value of goods and services sold on the darknet markets in 2015.
- Counterfeit items: This category accounted for 11% of the total value of goods and services sold on the darknet markets in 2015.
- Hacking tools: This category accounted for 6% of the total value of goods and services sold on the darknet markets in 2015.
- Weapons: This category accounted for 5% of the total value of goods and services sold on the darknet markets in 2015.
On the dark web’s eBay-like marketplaces, vendors still sell many varieties of illegal drugs, typically shipping the substances to their customers in vacuum-sealed envelopes. We analyzed listings for several types of drugs that were put up for sale over the past year, using data collected by Grams, a search engine for the dark web. At its peak, Hydra Market was the single largest darknet market as well as the largest marketplace for online narcotics in countries of the former Soviet Union. Unrivaled in its size, reach, and complexity, and vertically integrated network—along with its status as a crucial hub for illegal cryptocurrency cashout services—made it a significant player amongst darknet marketplaces.
However, its results can provide evidence-based recommendations for interventions targeted at university students. In addition to testing Hypotheses 1 and 2, it should be highlighted that reliable delivery of goods (TF 18) and vendor reliability (TF 2) were ranked at the top. In contrast, the option of registering (TF 9) and payment with cryptocurrency (TF 13) were ranked at the bottom of the list of the factors examined in the illegal purchasing situations. Testing the first hypothesis highlights whether there are similarities or differences in the process of legal and illegal online shopping.
Market Features
FAQs
What is the darknet?
What is another name for the dark web?
The dark web, also known as darknet websites, are accessible only through networks such as Tor ("The Onion Routing" project) that are created specifically for the dark web. Tor browser and Tor-accessible sites are widely used among the darknet users and can be identified by the domain ".onion".
However, there is evidence of demand for such services, as shown by the prosecution of several individuals who have attempted to pay for contract killings with cryptocurrency. DarkOwl has assigned assets to monitoring and collecting data from the new AlphaBay Marketplace, despite their increased crawler detection measures and ongoing server instability. Our analysts will continue to follow this market’s presence and reputation on the darknet, and provide further updates as this story unfolds. One user openly joked they would stick to purchasing their drugs on social media.
The darknet is a part of the internet that is not indexed by search engines and is only accessible through special software. It is often used for illegal activities, such as selling drugs, weapons, and stolen data.
How big are the darknet markets?
It is difficult to estimate the exact size of the darknet markets, as they are constantly changing and new markets are constantly emerging. However, several studies have attempted to estimate the size of these markets, with one report estimating that the total value of goods and services sold on the darknet markets was around $300 million in 2015.
What are the most popular darknet markets?
- For a local machine configuration he recommends a computer purchased for cash running Linux, using a local Tor transparent proxy.
- The re-evaluation of the indicators applied in the questionnaire, taking statistical aspects into account, could help create a database suitable for running more robust parametric tests and developing models.
- As a result, such OTC brokers are vulnerable to abuse by criminals seeking to cash out illegally-derived cryptocurrency.
- A 2019 study by researchers at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Deakin University and the University of Technology Sydney found that cryptocurrency was being widely used by traders in China to circumvent capital controls.
The most popular darknet markets are AlphaBay, Hansa Market, Dream Market, Wall Street Market, Valhalla Market, Russian Market, Berlusconi Market, Cannazon Market, Tochka Market, and Abraxas Market.
What are the most popular goods and services on the darknet markets?
The most popular goods and services on the darknet markets are drugs, followed by stolen data and counterfeit items.
What does dark market sell?
Darknet markets are dark web black markets that offer illicit goods for sale, often using cryptocurrencies as a method of payment. Although some products for sale are legal, illicit goods such as drugs, stolen information, and weapons are common items in these markets.
