In 2022, Abacus was used by 10% of the users on Western darknet markets. It grew to 17% in 2023 and reached a leading status of 70% last year. Since its inception, Abacus Market has gradually increased its market share in the Western DNM ecosystem. In 2022, it ranked as the fourth largest Bitcoin-supporting Western DNM with 10% of market share, rising to 17% in 2023. 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. Abacus Market launched in September 2021 as Alphabet Market, before rebranding in November 2021.
Canadian Crypto-Exchange Shutters After $6m ‘Hack’
Its interface resembles classic markets like AlphaBay and Empire. All transactions use escrow by default, holding funds securely until you confirm delivery of your order. Abacus primarily sold illegal substances and supported both Bitcoin and Monero for transactions. Over four years, the platform’s Bitcoin transaction volume exceeded $100 million. Including Monero, experts estimated the figure could reach $300–400 million. Early finalization risks scams; report suspicious vendors immediately.
- TRM Labs assesses that the marketplace’s operators have likely conducted an exit scam, shutting down operations and disappearing with users’ funds.
- The site’s administrator, known as “Vito,” attributed the disruptions to a wave of new users following the shutdown of rival Archetyp Market and an alleged DDoS attack.
- However, from June 28 to July 10, 2025, this dropped to USD 13,000 across just 100 deposits.
- Never trust search engines or third-party lists for darknet market URLs.
- Learn how to automate financial risk reports using AI and news data with this guide for product managers, featuring tools from Webz.io and OpenAI.
Abacus Market Mirrors
Considering Monero transactions, the researchers estimate that total sales on Abacus were likely closer to at least $300 million. The best month for the darkweb market was this June, when the value of brokered sales peaked at $6.3 million. Fund your wallet with BTC or XMR, browse products, and shop securely using the autoshop feature. Despite this reassurance, most of the DNM community remained skeptical. This was reflected in the sharp decline in deposit volumes to Abacus between June and July, 2025. Between June 1 and June 27, 2025 average daily deposits to Abacus were USD 230,000 across 1,400 transactions.
Mandatory PGP 2FA, auto-logout system, and transaction logs that delete after 12 hours ensure your activities remain private and secure. While other markets like Dream Market, White House Market, and Empire Market have come and gone, Abacus has maintained continuous operation through its commitment to security, reliability, and user privacy. However, it would be reckless to rely entirely on the site’s security features. In addition, you should always encrypt all the sensitive data with PGP and never transfer more money than is required to complete a transaction. One of the biggest problems cybersecurity teams face isn’t a lack of tools — it’s too many alerts.
PGP Encryption
STYX Market focuses specifically on financial fraud, making it a go-to destination for cybercriminals engaged in this activity. Darknet markets operate within this hidden space, often hosting illegal activity, while the deep web primarily consists of everyday private or password-protected content. Darknet is your best source for the latest hacking tools, hacker news, cyber security best practices, ethical hacking & pen-testing. After dominating the ecosystem with over 70% market share and recording $6.3 million in monthly sales, its sudden disappearance has shocked the community. This article reveals the top 10 dark web markets dominating in 2025, their unique characteristics, and the critical implications for enterprise cybersecurity.
Is Abacus Market Safe For Shopping?
This malware-as-a-service model allows less tech-savvy criminals to launch malware-driven cyberattacks without building the tools themselves. Law enforcement agencies monitor many dangerous markets, and even anonymous browsing isn’t foolproof. Just visiting these sites can attract attention from law enforcement, especially if you interact with known vendors or download suspicious content. From drug sales and breached data to scam services and malware, dark web markets are some of the most dangerous corners of the internet. These markets mimic traditional e-commerce websites, but instead of second-hand books or vintage jackets, they traffic in illegal goods and criminal services.
Focusing intelligence collection on specialised marketplaces yields better ROI for threat detection and proactive defence. Data from TRM Labs indicate that Abacus was among the top three bitcoin-enabled darknet marketplaces by transaction volume. Classic darknet markets sell diverse illegal goods; data stores focus on leaked or stolen data like credentials, databases, and ID records. 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.
Security Links
Funds are only released when both parties confirm the transaction is complete. In case of disputes, a team of experienced moderators reviews the case and makes a fair decision. Always use verified Abacus mirrors to access the platform safely.
Abacus Market excels not just by facilitating smooth transactions, but by prioritizing user experience with a user-friendly interface and effortless navigation. The forum integration encourages an active community where users can exchange valuable knowledge and insights, fostering a sense of belonging. Abacus sets itself apart by ensuring total transparency, providing a safe and reliable platform for buyers and sellers alike.
Data Protection On Abacus Market
The Abacus Market shop facilitates secure transactions using Bitcoin (2 confirmations) or Monero (10 confirmations). Browse the extensive catalog, deposit funds, and purchase with confidence—vendor ratings and reviews provide transparency and trust. 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.
This abrupt shutdown has raised suspicions of an exit scam, where operators disappear with users’ funds. Abacus Market — once the largest Bitcoin-enabled Western darknet marketplace — went offline in early July 2025. TRM Labs assesses the event was likely an exit scam, though a covert law enforcement seizure cannot be ruled out. Cases like Nemesis Market and Monopoly Market indicate that law enforcement agencies now prefer to take down DNMs without announcing it publicly — and potentially alerting vendors under investigation.
Blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs reported that both Abacus Market’s dark web and clearnet infrastructure are now inaccessible, a likely exit scam by its operators. The market has an active presence on the Dread forum where users share experiences and updates. Abacus Market goes offline after user complaints; TRM Labs suspects a $12M exit scam, with other theories pointing to law enforcement or admin shutdown.
The platform supports Bitcoin and Monero simulations, with unique temporary addresses for each deposit, simulating secure crypto routing. To access Abacus, users are strongly advised to use the Tor Browser, which allows for a better understanding of anonymized traffic. Ensure you are using verified abacus mirrors for safe access to the platform. Gaining access to Abacus involves a multi-step process, including CAPTCHA validation, anti-phishing measures, custom credentials setup, and mnemonic recovery. We prioritize security with Tor access, XMR transactions, PGP encryption, and escrow protection. Download it from the official Tor Project website and use the onion link provided above on this site.
Abacus Market, the largest Western darknet marketplace supporting Bitcoin payments, has shut down its public infrastructure in a move suspected to be an exit scam. It supports PGP encryption, multisig escrow, and Monero payments. This guide provides official Abacus links, mirrors, and security tips to help you navigate the market safely.
