While law enforcement typically continues to target the largest darknet marketplaces like Archetyp, it has moved away from multi-DNM takedowns such as 2014’s Operation Onymous. Instead, law enforcement agencies now appear to focus more closely on the vendors. Without vendors, darknet marketplaces cannot operate or generate profits, making them a more strategic enforcement target. In late June 2025, users began reporting withdrawal issues with Abacus Market, which typically indicates an impending exit scam. The marketplace’s administrator, known as ‘Vito’, responded on darkweb discussion forum Dread, claiming an influx of Archetyp users and a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack were the reasons for the issues. Abacus Market launched in Q3 2021, created by a team of cybersecurity veterans who recognized the need for a more secure, reliable darknet marketplace.
Abacus Market has grown significantly since its inception, becoming one of the most trusted darknet marketplaces. 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.
Mining Vs Staking: Which Crypto Validation Method Will Shape The Future?
In 2024, its share surged to over 70%, following ASAP Market’s voluntary closure in July, 2023 and the law enforcement seizure of Incognito Market in March, 2024. However, the firm also said the administrator of the dark web discussion forum Dread, who was in close contact with the Abacus team, has cast doubt on law enforcement being behind the marketplace’s disappearance. Never trust search engines or third-party lists for darknet market URLs. Believe it or not, some dark web marketplaces have pretty advanced systems for building trust.
What’s Behind This Likely Exit Scam?
TRM’s findings highlight the increasing instability within Western darknet markets. As platforms vanish or are taken down, vendors and buyers are shifting towards encrypted communication channels and smaller, low-effort marketplaces to continue operations. A surge of activity on Abacus occurred in mid-June, coinciding with Europol’s operation against Archetyp Market, one of the oldest darknet marketplaces. Many users migrated to Abacus, and the site’s monthly sales volume dramatically jumped to $6.3 million.
Consequently, a variety of other items are permitted, though not yet widespread. Abacus is easy to use but somewhat disorganized, offering an eclectic mix of products ranging from drugs and fraud-related items to unique offerings with unconventional descriptions. The market exclusively supports Monero (XMR) and employs a simple payment system for each order, attracting a niche user base. The site’s infrastructure, including its clearnet mirror, went offline without warning or the typical law enforcement seizure banner.
Top Substances On Abacus Market
It is already not a small market, but it strives to soon expand and evolve. Always use the verified onion link provided on this page or check our official posts on Dread Forum. Always verify links through trusted sources like Dread or PGP signatures to avoid phishing. Your funds and data are always protected on Abacus, with security standards matching the best abacus market practices. Europol shuttered one of the longest-running dark web marketplaces, Archetyp Market, on June 16, causing its users to flood Abacus, leading to its largest-ever monthly sales volume of $6.3 million in June.
Current Mirrors And Links Are Mostly Responsible For Security And Privacy
However, it’s important to remember the potential legal and ethical implications of activities on these platforms. While user-friendly, Abacus is recognized by its administrators as a work-in-progress. Planned enhancements include auto-withdrawal, dark mode, Bitcoin and Recon reviews integration, comment notifications, an improved messaging system, a forum, an exchange, 2FA fixes, and a better search engine.
Harm Reduction Project AEGIS & Banned Products
- Nevertheless, the police could have clandestinely taken Abacus as they constructed cases against users and operators, but this is not confirmed.
- Established in late 2021, Abacus Market has become the longest-standing darknet marketplace, filling the void void left by the closure of AlphaBay and retirement of Dream Market.
- Abacus Market has firmly established itself as the premier darknet marketplace since its founding in late 2021.
- It’s not just a Top spot—it’s a fortress for anyone who values privacy over everything else.
Featuring escrow protection, Monero support, and a user-friendly interface. Our marketplace leverages state-of-the-art encryption, blockchain-based transactions, and multi-factor authentication to ensure user privacy. The Abacus Shop features an updated interface in 2025, designed for seamless navigation across devices. We prioritize user trust with real-time fraud detection and a dedicated support team available 24/7. Blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs, which has been monitoring the darknet ecosystem, highlights that the sudden cessation of Abacus’s public infrastructure bears all the hallmarks of an exit scam. While law enforcement operations can sometimes result in “silent” takedowns, the lack of any official seizure banner or announcement from authorities makes an exit scam the more probable explanation.
Official Abacus Mirror 5
We prioritize security with Tor access, XMR transactions, PGP encryption, and escrow protection. A secure and anonymous marketplace focused on privacy and community trust. For added reliability, Abacus Market mirrors provide backup access points, keeping the marketplace operational even during technical challenges. The Abacus URL darknet market is built to withstand threats, making it a fortress for dark web traders. Create an account by selecting a username, password, PIN, and mnemonic phrase for recovery.
Abacus Market appeared on the scene in 2021 and quickly became one of the heavyweights among English-speaking markets on the dark web. The categories are well organized, ranging from drugs and fraud to digital products, guides, and malware.What really sets it apart is its focus on security and usability. It supports PGP encryption, two-factor authentication (2FA), alerts against fake sites (antiphishing), and a verification system for sellers. Its interface is easy to navigate, and it has a reliable escrow system, as well as allowing payments with Bitcoin and Monero. All of this has made it one of the most reliable markets still active in 2025. Abacus Market is a leading darknet marketplace operating on the Onion Tor network since late 2020.
Early finalization risks scams; report suspicious vendors immediately. However, the administrator of Dread, a darknet forum in contact with Abacus staff, has said they doubt police are behind this disappearance. According to a July 14 report by TRM Labs, the site, its backup portal, and all related servers have been taken down. Investigators noted that the operators likely shut everything down and left with user funds. And beware—while many explore out of curiosity or for research purposes, it’s important to remember that engaging with these platforms, even as an observer, can lead to serious legal and ethical consequences. Our support team is active 24/7 on Dread Forum with average response times under 1 hour.
The platform is developing decentralized infrastructure that will make it virtually unstoppable while maintaining its legendary security. Overall, the recent flood of refugees from the closed markets combined with the Abacus’s unmatched usability made it one of the largest players in the industry. It has 2-FA with PGP encryption, advanced search filters, an intuitive interface, Escrow with Multisig, full & partial FE, a substantial product range, and the ability to pay with Monero. With the newest wave of the major darknet markets being closed (e.g., the Versus market has officially retired just a few days ago), Abacus has become a safe harbor for many refugees, vendors and buyers alike.
Every vendor undergoes rigorous verification including identity confirmation, product testing, and escrow compliance before being approved to sell on Abacus Market. TheNewsCrypto is an online media publication that helps to educate readers about crypto news, exchanges, and markets in the crypto and blockchain industry. This website complies with all applicable laws regarding academic research and freedom of information. All data is presented in accordance with the principles of ethical cybersecurity research established by organizations like the IACR and ACM. All transactions are protected by our escrow system until both parties confirm satisfaction.
What $1 Billion In Liquidations Means For Market Stability
This figure dropped quickly in early July, to just $13,000 a day across 100 deposits, as user trust was quickly affected by withdrawal delays. Fill out the form to speak with our team about investigative professional services. In total, Abacus Market generated nearly USD 100 million in Bitcoin-enabled sales. However, considering that Monero — a privacy coin — typically accounts for two-thirds to three-quarters of total volume, Abacus’s sales are likely closer to between USD 300 million and USD 400 million. Copyright © 2025 FactSet Research Systems Inc.Copyright © 2025, American Bankers Association. SEC fillings and other documents provided by Quartr.© 2025 TradingView, Inc.
- Stay up to date with our latest exchange reviews, promotions, how-to guides and educational articles on Bitcoin, cryptocurrency & more.
- With over 50,000 listings, a tight-knit vendor crew, and a setup that keeps you off the radar, Abacus has earned its stripes as a go-to hub for darknet traders.
- In June alone, Abacus recorded $6.3 million in sales, capturing over 70% of the market.
- It offers secure escrow transactions, supports both Bitcoin and Monero payments, and maintains strict vendor verification to ensure a safe trading environment.
- Even as major darknet platforms fall, TRM Labs data shows that the ecosystem remains highly adaptive.
Escrow Protection
These are actual search terms people use to find Abacus Market’s official links. Our escrow system and blockchain-based payments guarantee safe transactions. With our multi-signature escrow system and PGP encryption, all transactions are protected until both parties confirm satisfaction.
