Abacus Market, the largest bitcoin-enabled Western darknet marketplace, went offline earlier this month, leading blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs to assess that the operators likely executed an exit scam, disappearing with users’ funds. This incident follows the June 16 seizure of Archetyp Market by law enforcement, highlighting a trend of instability within the Western darknet […]
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An international law enforcement operation in June 2025 dismantled Archetyp, one of the dark web’s largest drug marketplaces, after a three-day crackdown spanning six countries. Police Seize €7.8M in Assets in Archetyp Dark Web Bust Archetyp, a darknet platform that reportedly facilitated more than €250 million ($289 million) in illicit drug sales, was taken offline […]
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Dormant cryptocurrency wallets associated with Nucleus Marketplace, a dark web market inactive since 2016, unexpectedly showed transaction activity on March 7, 2025, reigniting speculation about the fate of 5,000 bitcoin (BTC) tied to the platform, according to data from blockchain analytics firm Arkham Intelligence. Dormant Bitcoin Wallets Linked to Defunct Dark Web Market Nucleus Reactivate […]
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Larry Harmon laundered 350,000 BTC, but he was treated leniently for his help in jailing Roman Sterlingov.
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A landmark sentencing has closed the chapter on Bitcoin Fog, the longest-running bitcoin mixing service on the darknet, with its operator facing over a decade in prison. The Fall of Bitcoin Fog: DOJ’s Pursuit Unmasks a Decade-Long Darknet Operation The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Friday that Roman Sterlingov has been sentenced to prison […]
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Heather Morgan, known by her rap persona “Razzlekhan,” could land an 18-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to laundering cryptocurrency linked to the 2016 Bitfinex hack. Prosecutors described her role as pivotal in obscuring stolen bitcoin through complex schemes, despite not being part of the original theft. Her cooperation, and the influence of her husband, […]
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Two Russian nationals have been charged with running a massive money laundering network that processed billions through cryptocurrency exchanges, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced. These exchanges, including Cryptex and Joker’s Stash, enabled criminals to bypass regulations and funnel funds from fraud, ransomware, and darknet activities. U.S. authorities, in collaboration with international law enforcement, […]
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A Nigerian national has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for his role in a massive darknet fraud scheme that intended to cause over $6 million in losses, according to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). Using various online aliases, Kaura led a global network selling stolen payment card data, using cryptocurrencies like […]
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German authorities have dismantled 47 exchange services involved in facilitating anonymous crypto transactions for criminal activities. These platforms bypassed anti-money laundering protocols, enabling cybercriminals to exchange digital currencies without identity verification. The takedown follows a series of other operations targeting major cybercrime networks. With seized user and transaction data, authorities are set to pursue further […]
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Irish authorities seized $7.1 million in cryptocurrency in a raid targeting money laundering and darknet sales. Three individuals were arrested, with one remaining in custody. “The arrests of the three individuals and the assets seized are the result of a highly complex investigation into criminal darknet marketplace activities by specialist investigators attached to the Garda […]
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