Despite growing crackdowns from law enforcement agencies, the dark web remains a hotbed of criminal activity, offering everything from drugs to stolen data. In 2023, the dark web attracted an average of 2.7 million daily users, with Germany now leading as the country with the highest number of Tor users, surpassing the United States for the first time in years.
Today’s cybercriminals spread their activities across multiple platforms, making them harder to track and shut down. Telegram channels supplement traditional onion sites, blurring lines between the dark web and more mainstream communication tools.
The dark web marketplaces are mainly defined into two categories. 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.
As of 2020, nearly 57% of the dark web was estimated to contain illegal content, including violence and extremist platforms. Users can browse and purchase various illicit items, making these marketplaces a hub for unlawful activity. For instance, cybercriminals can buy credit card details with a $5,000 balance for just $110.
The second category consists of data stores, which specialize in stolen information. These sites cater to cybercriminals seeking valuable data, such as credit card numbers, login credentials, and personal information. In 2019, there were approximately 8,400 active sites on the dark web, selling thousands of products and services daily.
Ransomware and cryptocurrency-based crimes saw a significant increase in 2023, with a nearly $176 million rise compared to 2022. By supplying stolen data, these marketplaces fuel many online scams and identity theft operations, playing a critical role in the darker aspects of the internet.
Dark Web Marketplaces
Security researchers have been monitoring forums within the cybercriminal underworld to investigate the leading markets operating in 2024. Here are some of the most popular dark web marketplaces in 2024:
- 1) CROWN MARKET: Crown Market is a relatively new dark web marketplace and took over much of vacuum left by the AlphaBay takedown. With over 40,000 product listings and valued at around $15 million, it’s a sprawling marketplace and go-to destination for drugs, counterfeit items and cybercrime tools. Link: crownozv6lvy373fkx44o2mxrlst4b6pu6zttcmquueomcw4onmm7oad.onion crownipsgwzaj3eby5pienlzanam5qjreedgvvqlctlkllx7l2x4nyyd.onion
- 2) HADES MARKET: Launched in 2023, HADES focuses on financial crime, providing stolen credit card data, hacked bank accounts and access to various cryptocurrency laundering tools. It maintains a very strict level of user verification and integration with an official Telegram account to provide real-time updates to users. Various cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Monero can be used to make purchases. Link: hadesfouu52vnzzgxrfaiysz2istn2pf63gskps3dpjyubwzxx2z25yd.onion
- 3) ANUBIS MARKET: Active for a decade since 2014, it is a widely used credit card shop used to source stolen credit card information such as dumps, CVVs, Wholesale Accounts. Payment options include Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Cryptocheck. It has a bidding feature, with new batches of stolen data being frequently added. Links: anubisqr57mqcf3vfqv3hknwbpux5ioqs6atmpwrqive6x6wrkdtrwyd.onion
- 4) EREBUS MARKET: Contrary to the name, the market operates primarily in English with a global audience and specializes in the sale of stolen data relating to credit card data, remote desktop protocol access credentials, stealer logs, personal information, BIN checkers, PayPal cookie converters, and several cybercrime related tools and utilities. The market is known for its accessible pricing ranges.
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