48 Dark Web Marketplace Statistics You Need to Know in 2025

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Dark Web Marketplace Overview

  1. Darknet markets received just over $2 billion in Bitcoin on-chain in 2024, while fraud shops received $225 million. Source: Chainalysis
  2. Approximately 30,000 active websites exist on the dark web as of 2025, representing 0.03% of the entire internet. Source: Electro IQ
  3. 60% of dark web domains host illicit content, with the majority involving illegal marketplaces and criminal services. Source: Electro IQ
  4. The dark web accounts for only 0.01% of the entire internet, yet generates billions in illicit transactions annually. Source: DeepStrike
  5. Approximately 500,000 users regularly visit darknet marketplaces to purchase illicit goods and services. Source: Electro IQ
  6. Blacksprut is the largest dark web marketplace with 28% market share, followed by Mega Darknet Market at 22%. Source: Electro IQ
  7. Kraken DNM overtook Mega as the leading Russia-based marketplace, receiving $737 million on-chain in 2024. Source: Chainalysis
  8. 92% of major dark web marketplaces offer escrow and dispute resolution, mimicking legitimate e-commerce platforms. Source: DeepStrike

    9. Transaction & Revenue Statistics

  9. Darknet marketplaces generated over $1.7 billion in cryptocurrency-enabled drug transactions in 2024, marking year-on-year growth of over 20%. Source: Global Initiative
  10. Cryptocurrency-enabled online drug sales grew by more than 19% from 2023 to 2024, reaching nearly $2.4 billion. Source: TRM Labs
  11. Wholesale drug purchases averaged between 71% and 81% of total darknet market share in 2024. Source: Chainalysis
  12. Darknet drug sales totaled $470 million in 2022, driven by pandemic-era demand and global events. Source: DeepStrike
  13. 98% of dark web transactions use Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies for payment processing. Source: Electro IQ
  14. $20-25 billion in cryptocurrency flowed through dark web markets in 2022, encompassing all illicit goods and services. Source: DeepStrike
  15. Fraud shop revenues declined by 50% year-over-year in 2024 following the takedown of UAPS payment processor. Source: Chainalysis
  16. Abacus Market received $43.3 million on-chain in 2024, more than doubling its revenue with 183.2% year-over-year growth. Source: Chainalysis

    17. User Demographics & Access

  17. Daily Tor network users reached 3+ million by early 2025, up from 2 million at the start of the year. Source: DeepStrike
  18. Germany leads in Tor usage with 2.2 million daily users, followed by the United States with 577,986 users. Source: Electro IQ
  19. The U.S. represents 17.6% of global Tor users, totaling approximately 387,000 daily users. Source: DeepStrike
  20. 84.7% of dark web users are male, while 9.4% are female, with most users aged 36-45 years. Source: Electro IQ
  21. 50% of U.S. adults reported familiarity with the dark web in late 2022, up from previous years. Source: DeepStrike
  22. Dark web forum membership spiked 44% during COVID-19 lockdowns in spring 2020 compared to the prior baseline. Source: DeepStrike
  23. Russia had 85.7% of drug users purchasing on the darknet in 2022, the highest proportion globally. Source: Global Initiative
  24. 70% of people worldwide are unaware of how the dark web functions, despite increasing media coverage. Source: Electro IQ

    25. Product Pricing & Listings

  25. Credit card details with up to $5,000 balance sell for $110 on average on dark web fraud shops. Source: Electro IQ
  26. Over 100 million compromised credit cards were available in 2022, with financial fraud accounting for 34% of dark web activity. Source: Electro IQ
  27. Stolen online banking logins with minimum $2,000 sell for $60, while accounts with $100 minimum sell for $40. Source: Electro IQ
  28. U.S. Social Security Numbers cost as low as $1, while full identity profiles (Fullz) range from $20-$100. Source: DeepStrike
  29. Corporate network access ranges from hundreds to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on privilege level and target. Source: DeepStrike
  30. Over 15 billion account credentials were circulating on dark web forums by 2022, an 82% jump over the prior year. Source: DeepStrike
  31. 65% of all dark web items are identity-related, including full identity profiles, SSNs, passports, and credit card data. Source: DeepStrike
  32. Illicit drug listings exceeded 44,000 across marketplaces in 2022, with cannabis, synthetic drugs, and cocaine dominating. Source: Electro IQ
  33. Weapons trafficking accounted for over 35,000 listings in 2022, with 60% linked to the United States. Source: Global Initiative
  34. A forged Maltese passport was available for $4,000 in 2023, while digital passports with personal details cost up to $70. Source: Electro IQ
  35. 1,000 malware installs (threat installations) sell for $1,800 on dark web marketplaces. Source: Electro IQ
  36. Top-quality malware kits were sold for $4,500 in Q1 2023, with infostealer malware rental costing $1,024 per month. Source: Electro IQ
  37. Illicit cryptocurrency addresses received $40.9 billion in 2024, though this represents a drop from previous years. Source: Chainalysis
  38. Monero transactions accounted for 42% of crypto activity on dark web markets in 2024, making it the most-used privacy coin. Source: CoinLaw
  39. Bitcoin’s share of illicit transactions fell from 97% in 2016 to 12% by 2024, replaced by privacy coins and stablecoins. Source: BeInCrypto
  40. Daily Monero transactions decreased by 50% as some darknet markets returned to Bitcoin after delisting by centralized exchanges. Source: Yellow
  41. More than 80% of Bitcoin addresses on the dark web were used with malicious intent, with monetary volume around $180 million. Source: NDSS
  42. Ransomware cryptocurrency-based crimes increased by $176 million in 2023 compared to 2022. Source: Electro IQ
  43. The median ransom payment hit $190,000 in Q2 2023, with averages in the $700,000 range for companies that paid. Source: DeepStrike
  44. Ransomware victims claimed by groups increased 55.5% in 2023, totaling 5,070 victims. Source: DeepStrike

    45. Law Enforcement Impact

  45. Operation RapTor in May 2025 resulted in 270 arrests, over $200 million seized, and 2 metric tons of drugs including 144 kg of fentanyl. Source: DeepStrike
  46. Operation Deep Sentinel shut down Archetyp Market in June 2025, which had 600,000 users and moved $250-290 million in illicit goods since 2020. Source: DeepStrike
  47. Hydra Market was shut down in April 2022 after facilitating $5.2 billion in crypto transactions, with its founder sentenced to life in prison in December 2024. Source: Chainalysis
  48. Nemesis Market was seized in March 2024 by German authorities, along with $102,000 in cryptocurrency. Source: Chainalysis
  49. Incognito Market’s operator was arrested in May 2024 after conducting an exit scam in March, stealing Bitcoin and Monero from users. Source: Chainalysis
  50. UAPS payment processor was sanctioned and seized in September 2024, causing swift decline in fraud shop activity. Source: Chainalysis

    51. Frequently Asked Questions

    What is a dark web marketplace?

    A dark web marketplace is an encrypted online platform accessible only through special browsers like Tor, where users buy and sell illicit goods and services including drugs, stolen data, weapons, and hacking tools using cryptocurrency.

    How much money flows through dark web markets annually?

    Darknet markets received just over $2 billion in Bitcoin in 2024, while total cryptocurrency flows through dark web markets reached $20-25 billion in 2022 across all goods and services.

    What cryptocurrencies do dark web markets accept?

    While Bitcoin remains dominant at 98% of transactions, privacy coins like Monero have gained popularity, accounting for 42% of crypto activity on dark web markets in 2024 due to enhanced anonymity features.

    Are dark web marketplaces legal to access?

    Simply accessing the dark web using Tor is legal in most countries, but purchasing or selling illegal goods and services on dark web marketplaces is illegal and can result in criminal prosecution.

    How do law enforcement agencies track dark web criminals?

    Law enforcement uses blockchain analysis, cryptocurrency tracing, undercover operations, and international cooperation to identify and arrest dark web marketplace operators and users, as demonstrated by major operations like RapTor and Deep Sentinel.

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