The Most Popular Dark Web Market, Ranked
Voting rules: Choose the dark web market you think is the most popular!
Updated on May 7, 2024 06:34
The digital age has ushered in new forms of marketplaces that operate beyond the usual constraints and oversight of traditional mediums. One such evolution can be found in dark web markets. These markets play a critical role for researchers and analysts who study economic exchanges that occur outside of regulated spaces.
By participating in the voting process, users contribute to shaping an updated and more accurate ranking of these markets. This dynamic list not only reflects current trends but also aids in providing a clearer understanding of shifting preferences and the emergence of new players in the dark web landscape.
What Is the Most Popular Dark Web Market?
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186votesEmpire Market is one of the most popular dark web markets that has been in operation since 2018. It offers a wide range of products, including drugs, counterfeit items, and stolen data. It has gained popularity due to its user-friendly interface, low fees, and reliable customer support.Empire Market is one of the most renowned dark web markets offering a wide range of illicit goods and services. Launched in early 2018, it quickly gained popularity due to its user-friendly interface and reliability. Empire Market operates on the Tor network, ensuring anonymity and encryption for its users.
- Registration: Invite only
- Cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin, Monero
- Product Categories: Drugs, Fraud, Counterfeit, Digital Goods, Services, Weapons, Jewelry, Software, SEO Services, and more
- MultiSig: Yes
- 2FA: Available
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241votesDream Market was one of the most popular dark web markets before it was shut down in 2019. It was known for its large selection of drugs, including rare and exotic ones. It also had a reputation for being secure and reliable.Dream Market, also known as Dream Market AlphaBay, is one of the most popular dark web marketplaces. It operates as a Tor hidden service and offers a wide range of illicit goods and services, including drugs, counterfeit goods, hacking tools, stolen data, and more. Dream Market is known for its user-friendly interface, reliable escrow system, and strong security measures, making it a preferred choice for many dark web shoppers and vendors.
- Market Category: Dark web marketplace
- Operating Model: Tor hidden service
- Product Range: Drugs, counterfeit goods, hacking tools, stolen data, etc.
- User Interface: User-friendly
- Escrow System: Reliable
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322votes
Dosseman · CC BY-SA 4.0Agora Marketplace was another popular dark web market that operated from 2013 to 2015. It was known for its strict security measures and high-quality products, including drugs, weapons, and hacking tools. It was shut down by law enforcement in 2015.Agora Marketplace was one of the most popular dark web marketplaces known for its wide range of products and user-friendly interface.- Escrow system: Secure payment system used to protect buyers and sellers.
- Bitcoin only: Transactions were conducted exclusively in Bitcoin, ensuring anonymity.
- Vendors and user ratings: Vendors were rated by users, providing transparency and helping buyers make informed decisions.
- Product variety: Agora offered a diverse range of categories such as drugs, digital goods, fraud-related items, and more.
- Anti-scam measures: The marketplace implemented measures to prevent scams, including multisignature transactions and a ban on phishing links.
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422votes
Nialldawson · CC BY-SA 4.0Silk Road was one of the first and most famous dark web markets. It operated from 2011 to 2013 and was known for its large selection of drugs, as well as its reputation for being secure and anonymous. It was shut down by law enforcement in 2013.The Silk Road was one of the most infamous dark web marketplaces that operated from 2011 to 2013. It gained notoriety for its role in facilitating a wide range of illegal activities, primarily focused on the buying and selling of drugs. The marketplace allowed users to browse and purchase various illicit substances anonymously using the cryptocurrency Bitcoin.- Operating Period: 2011 - 2013
- Primary Focus: Trade of illicit drugs
- Anonymity: Users could access the Silk Road via Tor network to maintain anonymity.
- Cryptocurrency: Bitcoin was the only accepted form of payment on the Silk Road.
- Security Measures: Silk Road used various encryption methods and financial escrow to ensure secure transactions.
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522votesAlphaBay was a popular dark web market that operated from 2014 to 2017. It was known for its large selection of drugs, as well as its user-friendly interface and reliable customer support. It was shut down by law enforcement in 2017.AlphaBay was one of the most popular dark web marketplaces, operating from 2014 to 2017. It offered a platform for buying and selling various illegal goods and services.
- Estimated Number of Users: Over 200,000
- Product Listings: Over 250,000
- Supported Cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin, Monero
- Escrow System: Yes
- Security Measures: PGP encryption, Two-factor authentication
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613votesWall Street Market was a popular dark web market that operated from 2016 to 2019. It was known for its large selection of drugs, as well as its user-friendly interface and escrow system. It was shut down by law enforcement in 2019.
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77votesBerlusconi Market is a popular dark web market that has been in operation since 2014. It offers a wide range of products, including drugs, counterfeit items, and digital goods. It has gained popularity due to its user-friendly interface and reliable customer support.Berlusconi Market is one of the most popular dark web markets that emerged in 2019. It operates as a hidden service on the Tor network and primarily facilitates the trade of illicit goods and services. The market provides a platform for vendors to sell a wide range of products, including drugs, counterfeit money, hacking tools, stolen data, and more.
- Launch Date: 2019
- Platform: Tor network
- Product Categories: Drugs, counterfeit money, hacking tools, stolen data, etc.
- Security Features: 2FA authentication, escrow system, PGP encryption
- Accepted Cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin (BTC)
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85votesCryptonia Market is a popular dark web market that has been in operation since 2018. It offers a wide range of products, including drugs, counterfeit items, and digital goods. It has gained popularity due to its user-friendly interface and reliable customer support.Cryptonia Market is a popular dark web marketplace that operates on the Tor network. It provides a platform for buying and selling various illicit goods and services anonymously. The market emphasizes security and user privacy, offering advanced encryption methods and anonymous communication channels to protect buyer and seller identities.
- Platform: Tor network
- Items: Illicit goods and services
- Security: Advanced encryption methods
- Privacy: Anonymous communication channels
- Anonymity: Protection of buyer and seller identities
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910votesTochka Market is a popular dark web market that has been in operation since 2015. It offers a wide range of products, including drugs, weapons, and hacking tools. It has gained popularity due to its user-friendly interface and reliable customer support.Tochka Market is one of the most popular dark web markets known for its user-friendly interface and wide range of illegal products and services. Established in 2015, it has gained a significant reputation among darknet users.
- Year of Creation: 2015
- Interface: User-friendly
- Product Variety: Wide range of illegal products and services
- Security Features: Encryption, 2FA, vendor reputation system
- Payment Methods: Bitcoin
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105votes
Valhalla Market
The SipulimiesValhalla Market is a popular dark web market that has been in operation since 2013. It offers a wide range of products, including drugs, weapons, and digital goods. It has gained popularity due to its secure and anonymous platform, as well as its reliable customer support.Valhalla Market, also known as Silkkitie, is one of the most popular dark web marketplaces. It was created in 2013 by a Finnish operator named 'The Sipulimies' (The Onion Man in English). Valhalla Market operates as a Tor hidden service, providing a platform for vendors to sell various illegal goods and services. The market focuses primarily on drug-related listings, but it also offers other illegal items such as counterfeit money, digital goods, hacking services, and more.- Market age: Established in 2013
- Market type: Dark web marketplace
- Operating service: Tor hidden service
- Primary focus: Drug-related listings
- Other offerings: Counterfeit money, digital goods, hacking services, etc.
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Discussion
Ranking factors for popular dark web market
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User baseThe size of the market's user base can be a strong indicator of its popularity. A larger user base generally implies greater trust and more activity on the platform.
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SecurityThe robustness and effectiveness of the market's security measures are crucial in maintaining the confidentiality and anonymity of its users, as well as ensuring that transactions are completed safely.
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User InterfaceA user-friendly and intuitive interface makes it easier for newcomers to navigate the market and attract more potential users.
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Product OfferingsThe variety and quality of products offered is an important factor as users are more likely to visit a market with diverse product listings catering to different preferences.
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Vendor Reputation SystemA market with a transparent and reliable vendor reputation system provides users with a useful tool for making informed decisions when choosing vendors and products.
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Payment OptionsSupport for multiple, secure, and popular cryptocurrencies provides users with more options, flexibility, and security for transactions.
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Uptime and StabilityA stable and consistent online presence indicates the reliability, efficiency, and overall technological infrastructure of the market.
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Customer SupportResponsive and effective customer support services help in resolving disputes, providing information, and maintaining positive customer relationships.
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User Reviews and RatingsPositive feedback and ratings from users can help new users gauge the trustworthiness and popularity of a dark web market.
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LongevityThe longer a dark web market has been operating without significant issues, the more likely it is to be trusted and well-regarded among users.
About this ranking
This is a community-based ranking of the most popular dark web market. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or marketplace is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!
Statistics
- 1536 views
- 232 votes
- 10 ranked items
Voting Rules
A participant may cast an up or down vote for each marketplace once every 24 hours. The rank of each marketplace is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.
More information on most popular dark web market
The dark web has become a hub for illegal activities, and one of the most prominent ones is the existence of online marketplaces where people can buy and sell illicit goods and services. These markets are often operated anonymously and use cryptocurrencies to facilitate transactions. The most popular dark web markets are constantly changing due to law enforcement efforts and internal issues such as exit scams. However, some of the well-known names in the dark web market scene include Silk Road, AlphaBay, and Dream Market. Despite numerous takedowns and arrests, the demand for these markets persists, and new ones continue to emerge.
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