Based on a report by Intelliagg, the following types are found on the Dark Web. To learn how to protect yourself from these threats and secure your digital presence, check out our follow-up blog. According to Tor Metrics, over 4 million daily users connect to the Tor network. The U.S. leads with more than 1 million relay users, followed by Germany and France.
Dark Web’s Share Of Global Internet Traffic
The darknet drug market continues to grow, with 2025 projections indicating expanded availability and improved user experience. Darknet magazines and forums provide updates on new markets, onion addresses, and URLs, facilitating seamless transactions. Cryptomarkets on the darknet remain a key resource for those seeking privacy and efficiency in online trade. In 2025, dark web markets continue to grow more sophisticated, leveraging cryptocurrency as their backbone for financial transactions.
Decentralization And Vendor Shops (2022–
Some markets are invite-only or have strict registration rules to keep out scammers and law enforcement. In 2019, there were approximately 8,400 active sites on the dark web, selling thousands of products and services daily. A Canadian market established in 2021, WTN offers over 9,000 products, including narcotics, fake goods, and digital services. It operates in both French and English and has built a reputation for ease-of-use. This early detection allows organizations to identify and respond to threats quickly, reducing the chances of unauthorized access, financial loss, or damage to brand reputation. This platform has rapidly become a key player in the fraud market, trading in PII and SSH credentials while making use of both the clear and dark web.
The Future Of Cybersecurity On The Dark Web
Established in 2019, Russian Market is a well-known and highly regarded data store on the dark web, specializing in the sale of PII and various forms of stolen data. Despite its name, the marketplace operates primarily in English and serves a global audience. It has gained a reputation for being a reliable source of high-quality data for cybercriminals. No, black market websites operate illegally and pose high risks of scams, fraud, and law enforcement action.
The Best Dark Web Markets To Consider In 2025
These platforms leverage advanced encryption technologies and decentralized systems to ensure user privacy and transaction security. The integration of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Monero has further enhanced the reliability of these markets, offering users a seamless and anonymous payment method. 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.
Dark Web Statistics By Largest Marketplaces
By following the tips and recommendations outlined in this blog post, you’ll be in a far better position than most to defend yourself against cybercrime on the dark web. By adopting these strategies, businesses and individuals can better protect themselves against the ever-evolving threats of the dark web. Hackers have evolved over time, which has made defending cybercrime a challenging task. It used to be that technological advancements were the main factor that motivated hackers. Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks overwhelm a target’s network or system with vast amounts of traffic, which makes them inaccessible to users.
From Firewall To Human Error: The Full Stack Of Cyber Defence In 2025
- While the dark web is not inherently illegal, it does host a range of illegal content, hidden services, and illicit activities.
- Bitcoin (BTC) remains important (30%), while niche use of altcoins like Zcash and Dash continues.
- Despite this growth, the average number of unique posts per month has remained the same compared to the previous year.
- Manual monitoring of the dark web is inefficient and risky due to the sheer volume of data involved.
These systems use cryptographic access credentials, distributed file storage, and token-based payments to build fully autonomous criminal economies. Telegram channels, encrypted messaging apps, and invite-only forums support additional layers of communication and product distribution. Vendors advertise products through these channels and redirect buyers to secure purchasing portals. This diversification reduces dependence on centralized markets and increases the resilience of criminal networks. The story of Hydra is yet another in a series of creepy facts about the Dark Web. Back in 2020, this Russian-speaking marketplace was the world’s biggest darknet market.
FAQ – Dark Web Markets 2025 And Cybersecurity
In 2025, total global revenues from dark web activities are projected at $3.2 billion, showing how underground markets adapt and survive despite relentless law enforcement pressure. Another striking trend is marketplace turnover, the average lifespan is now just 7.5 months, making it difficult for users to rely on any single platform long-term. Adding to that, encrypted and mobile-friendly markets now account for 22% dark web traffic, which aligns with the rising adoption of Tor on smartphones. Despite the churn, the top five platforms dominate, handling roughly 72% of all transactions. This concentration shows that while new entrants appear frequently, only a handful manage to attract significant user trust and volume. In fact, new markets are popping up every 3 to 4 weeks, proving that the cycle of closures and launches is alive and well.
The Evolution Of Darknet Markets In 2025
This secure setup is useful for those who want to avoid government surveillance or keep their personal information safe from online threats. The rise of cryptocurrencies like Monero and Zcash has further strengthened privacy, making transactions nearly untraceable. They lure crypto users to scam sites and Telegram bots under various guises, and add crypto-stealing functionality to infostealers and banking Trojans. With the price of Bitcoin setting record after record, the popularity of drainers specifically designed to steal cryptocurrency tokens from victims’ wallets is likely to persist in the coming year. The most traded data includes stolen credentials, credit card information, government IDs, malware kits, RDP access, fullz (complete identity profiles), and medical records.
Selling Price Of Illegal Digital Products On The Darknet In 2023
Founded by Ross William Ulbricht in 2011, Silk Road quickly established itself as the go-to destination for illegal items, particularly illegal drugs. When the FBI arrested Ulbricht in 2013 for money laundering and drug trafficking, among other offenses, the criminal complaint revealed the marketplace had generated over $1.2 billion in just two years. But in December of that year, Russian authorities started blocking people’s access to Tor, describing it as a cover for illegal activities. While it’s impossible to say precisely how many people regularly access the Deep Web and the Dark Web, looking at the number of Tor users could help paint a clearer picture. Between July 1 and September 30, 2023, this anonymous browser averaged over 4.61 million daily users, with more than 4.45 million connecting to it directly.
The shutdown of Archetyp, a major dark web drug market, demonstrates that law enforcement takedowns have only short-term effects, as such markets quickly re-emerge and adapt. Persistent trade and resilient user communities limit the long-term impact of these interventions. Focusing solely on dark web markets may overlook broader digital harms occurring on mainstream platforms. Archetyp launched in May 2020 and quickly grew to become one of the most popular dark web markets with an estimated total transaction volume of €250 million (A$446 million). It had more than 600,000 users worldwide and 17,000 listings consisting mainly of illicit drugs including MDMA, cocaine and methamphetamine.
As long as the dark web is a domain of goods and services, new marketplaces can arise and thrive. We are talking about credentials for applications, banking information, malware kits, exploits, and ransomware-as-a-service offerings. For those prioritizing variety, EclipseMarket stands out with its extensive catalog of pharmaceuticals, recreational drugs, and rare substances.
The continued growth of dark web markets creates urgent concerns for cybersecurity professionals. Stolen data remains a top-selling commodity, with new breaches appearing almost daily. Hackers bundle login credentials, credit card details, and identity documents for sale in bulk.
Finally, hacked accounts (3%), pornography (1%), and weapons (0.3%) make up the smallest slices of the ecosystem. Learn what a dark web scanning service is, how it works, its pros and cons, and why monitoring—not just scanning—is essential for real protection. 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. Embracing these technologies ensures your organization stays ahead in a rapidly evolving landscape.
Additionally, threat actors appear to be increasingly using multiple programming languages. For example, the client component of the malware may be developed in C++, while the server-side admin panel is implemented in Go. While not always mandatory, many regulations (e.g., GDPR, CPRA, HIPAA) encourage or require proactive breach detection, which includes dark web monitoring for exposed credentials or PII. Most ransomware groups use the dark web for initial access listings, malware purchases, and ransom negotiations, often via Tor-based portals. 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. It maintains a very strict level of user verification and integration with an official Telegram account to provide real-time updates to users.
