TRM Labs estimates that the market facilitated nearly $100 million in Bitcoin transactions alone. By last year, it commanded a dominant 70% of the Western darknet market landscape. Only 23% of vendor applications are approved, resulting in the most trustworthy vendor base in the darknet ecosystem. The platform is considering adding support for Zcash (ZEC) in Q as part of its privacy-focused cryptocurrency initiative. Abacus Market has surpassed 1,200 verified vendors, with a 34% increase in new vendor applications compared to last quarter.
In late June 2025, users began reporting withdrawal issues with Abacus Market, which typically indicates an impending exit scam. In early July, 2025, Abacus Market, the largest Bitcoin-enabled Western darknet marketplace (DNM), went offline, rendering all internet-facing infrastructure, including its clearnet mirror, inaccessible. TRM Labs reports that the market had enabled transactions of nearly $100 million worth of Bitcoin but the figure does not include Monero (XMR) cryptocurrency, which requires special conditions to track and accounts for at least two-thirds of all transactions on Abacus.
Trading, buying or selling cryptocurrencies should be considered a high-risk investment and every reader is advised to do their own research before making any decisions. Users are left empty-handed, and another major darknet chapter ends… in silence. “Faced with the decision between profit-seeking and self-preservation, Abacus’s admins likely chose the latter in light of Archetyp’s seizure and the surge in new users that elevated Abacus’s profile.”
Operation Success!
Whether it’s tighter surveillance, further shutdowns, or a shift toward decentralized darknet tools, Abacus may be the domino that triggers broader collapse in the West’s illicit digital markets. In one of the biggest darknet shutdowns of the year, Abacus Market has gone dark, triggering alarms across crypto and cybersecurity communities. TRM Labs analysts observed that this pattern aligns with typical exit scams, similar to how Evolution Market and other darknet sites previously disappeared. In 2024, Abacus accounted for 70% of Western darknet platforms accepting Bitcoin.
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Monero remains the preferred cryptocurrency due to enhanced privacy features, unlike Bitcoin, which leaves traceable public ledger records. Never trust forum-posted URLs without independent verification—always cross-check with trusted Abacus darknet repositories. Abacus Market links frequently change to avoid DDoS attacks and law enforcement interference. To verify the abacus link, use a special window on the website. Before purchasing the product, review the vendor’s background
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TRM Labs’ analysis traced several large transactions from Abacus-controlled wallets to obfuscation layers via popular mixing services, making the BTC harder to recover or track. By the time users realized what was happening, the operators had already siphoned off tens of millions in BTC—roughly 1,700+ coins—through a complex network of mixer services and cold wallets. Editor-in-Chief at Coinpaper, scaling data-driven editorial ops, SEO-led discovery, and audience-first storytelling across crypto, AI, and fintech. Don’t miss out and join our newsletter to get the latest, well-curated news from the crypto world!
This market offers a variety of goods and services, including drugs, weapons, counterfeit documents, and other illegal goods. Transactions are typically conducted using cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Monero, ensuring secure and anonymous payments. When navigating Abacus Market, users can find an extensive range of products, from digital goods to drugs and counterfeit items. Our review will explore its security features, product range, and overall user experience. With the market speculating a Fed rate cut in December, Bitcoin has rallied by more than 8% since it went down below $81,000 on Friday.
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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. TRM Labs said the closure could be the result of attention from law enforcement, as Abacus Market clocked a monthly record after the closure of Archetyp Market, one of the longest-running dark web marketplaces, in mid-June. The disappearance has led TRM to believe the “operators have likely conducted an exit scam, shutting down operations and disappearing with users’ funds.” Abacus commanded around 70% of the market share across all Bitcoin-enabled Western darknet marketplaces in 2024. The platform also requires users to create a PIN for additional security.
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Some countries have just one or a few vendors with a loyal customer base and a wider selection of goods. This increase may be due in part to the closures of top DNMs, the shift to the exclusive acceptance of XMR by other active markets, and delistings of XMR by popular centralized exchanges. When looking at crypto inflows to DNMs in 2024, the data indicate that wholesale drug purchases were dominant, averaging between 71 and 81% of this year’s total market share. Retail vendors appear to be holding a greater portion of their proceeds on-chain than wholesale vendors, while wholesale vendors (those who distribute drugs in large quantities) are making greater use of DeFi. While these outfits are not traditional DNMs, their success highlights how drug vendors are scaling their operations throughout Russian-speaking countries.
Abacus Market – Pros And Cons
Although some darknet operators, particularly of Western darknet marketplaces, have historically attempted rebrands or exit scams following law enforcement action, full-scale rebuilds appear to be becoming less common. According to TRM Labs, police now prefer to focus more efforts on the vendors that populate dark web marketplaces than taking down the platforms themselves. Abacus Market, one of the most influential Bitcoin-enabled darknet marketplaces in recent years, has reportedly vanished without warning, fueling widespread suspicions of an exit scam. Blockchain analytics companies including TRM Labs have characterized the shutdown as a likely exit scam—where marketplace operators abruptly shut down the platform and abscond with escrowed customer funds.
Arcadia Finance acknowledged the unauthorized transactions and advised users to revoke asset manager permissions. The exchange said that the attack resulted in the theft of 120 BTC, 350 ETH, 1,800 SOL and approximately 8.54 million USDT, along with funds in eight other cryptocurrencies. Seychelles-based crypto exchange BigOne reported a $27 million loss following a security breach that targeted its hot wallet. Truglia agreed to repay the stolen funds and reportedly possessed more than $53 million in assets, including cryptocurrency, jewelry and art, but court documents show he made no payments towards restitution. Trusted vendors can gain finalize early privileges.You may be shocked to find listings here that are outlawed in your jurisdiction. All vendors are reviewed by Abacus staff to avoid scammers.
TRM Labs stated that the recent rise in new users may have attracted more attention from authorities. TRM Labs noted that these patterns, withdrawal delays, user panic, and plummeting deposits, have been seen before on darknet sites that later vanished with customer money. The site’s administrator, known as “Vito”, told users this was due to too many new accounts and a denial-of-service attack. Investigators noted that the operators likely shut everything down and left with user funds.
- This signals a growing preference among darknet operators for obfuscation and anti-surveillance tools.
- Unlike some emerging markets that focused exclusively on Monero (XMR), a privacy-centric cryptocurrency, Abacus supported transactions in both Monero and Bitcoin.
- However, it would be reckless to rely entirely on the site’s security features.
- Follow all security recommendations in the Darknet Bible and never reveal personal information.
Abacus Market instability requires keeping minimal balances in deposit wallets; withdraw funds promptly after transactions are completed. Phishing sites mimic legitimate markets to steal login details—always check Abacus onion URL authenticity and SSL certificates before entering credentials. Law enforcement monitors darknet activities through blockchain analysis and compromised vendor accounts. Users must always verify PGP signatures before transactions to ensure vendor legitimacy. The Abacus Market operates as a secure darknet platform requiring Tor access through verified Abacus onion links to prevent phishing scams.
Our Market Updates page details recent changes, including new vendor verification processes to combat scams. Abacus Market stands out with its advanced security features, including DDoS protection and a stable server network. From illicit substances to hacking tools, all listings include detailed descriptions and vendor ratings. Explore frequently asked questions or check recent market updates to stay informed. With over 31,541 active listings and a 4.89 rating from 459 reviews, Abacus Market is a trusted platform. Rebranded from Alphabet Market in October 2021 to distinguish itself from AlphaBay, it offers secure, anonymous transactions using Bitcoin (BTC) and Monero (XMR).
Abacus Market, once the leading darknet marketplace catering to Western crypto users, has abruptly gone offline, sparking widespread fears of a calculated exit scam. Abacus Market, the largest Western darknet marketplace supporting bitcoin transactions, has abruptly gone offline, prompting speculation of a major exit scam. Successor platforms such as DrugHub, TorZon Market, and MGM Grand now find themselves under mounting pressure as users seek new, reliable marketplaces amidst a deteriorating security environment. The suspected abacus market exit scam involves more than $54 million in stolen Bitcoin, making it one of the most significant frauds on the darknet since Empire Market’s collapse in 2020. Abacus Market, one of the largest remaining darknet drug marketplaces catering to Western users, has suddenly disappeared, triggering widespread speculation of a deliberate exit scam. As darknet marketplaces continue to disappear without warning, whether through exit scams or unannounced law enforcement operations, blockchain intelligence firms, such as TRM, remain a key component to help investigators.
- WeTheNorth is a Canadian market established in 2021 that also serves international users.
- The most popular Bitcoin-based darknet marketplace, Abacus, has disappeared overnight, leaving thousands of its users without access to their money.
- It maintains a very strict level of user verification and integration with an official Telegram account to provide real-time updates to users.
- Latest updates, announcements, and security advisories
- In 2022, it ranked as the fourth largest Bitcoin-supporting Western DNM with 10% of market share, rising to 17% in 2023.
- The best month for the darkweb market was this June, when the value of brokered sales peaked at $6.3 million.
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Abacus launched in September 2021 as ‘Alphabet Market,’ and gradually increased its popularity, especially as the number of other markets on the dark web dwindled, mostly as a result of law enforcement actions. Blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs reports that Abacus shutting down so abruptly has all the indications of either an exit scam or a covert law enforcement operation dismantling the activity. Although the administrator of the site, known as “Vitro,” blamed the issues on a DDoS attack, and an influx of users from another marketplace known as Archetyp, Abacus users remained skeptical.
Suppliers and buyers communicate directly, something that is not so common in other markets.Thanks to its real-time inventory updates and highly specific search options, STYX has become a real alternative to traditional large markets. It is entirely focused on financial cybercrime and offers much more than just stolen cards or basic logins.Here you will find malware logs, remote access (RDP), brute force accounts, complete identity packages, and access to financial platforms. All of this has made it one of the most reliable markets still active in 2025. With the closure of giants such as AlphaBay, many sellers and buyers migrated to Abacus in search of a new home, and boy did they find it.This marketplace has over 40,000 listings, offering everything from illegal drugs, fake documents, stolen credit cards, and fake IDs to phishing kits and hacking tools. Abacus Market appeared on the scene in 2021 and quickly became one of the heavyweights among English-speaking markets on the dark web. Although each marketplace may have its own specialty, most focus on a few well-known categories.
Despite reassurances, the platform’s infrastructure, including its clearnet mirror, vanished without warning. Admin “Vito” blamed the delays on a surge of new users following the shutdown of Archetyp Market and a DDoS attack. Abacus last month averaged $230,000 in daily deposits, but this plummeted to $13,000 by early July as users encountered withdrawal issues. Every week, Information Security Media Group rounds up cybersecurity incidents in digital assets. If we find that some seller is selling adulterated substances they will banned forever from our platform and all their customers will be immediately warned.The old saying, “with freedom comes responsibility”, couldn’t be more true here.
