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The dark web is still recovering from the liquidation by German police final April of the Hydra market, a large underground market used to trade unlawful goods, launder cybercriminals’ cash, and conduct different criminal operations.

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How knowledgeable In keeping with Dark Reading, the Hydra market accounted for 93% of all illegal underground economic activity. Before the web site was shut down, the average day by day earnings of all underground markets was about $4.2 million, and after the marketplace liquidation, that number dropped to $447,000, in line with Chainalysis, when the dark internet market’s earnings might be in 2021 about $3.1 billion, then darknet revenue fell in 2022 to $1.5 billion final yr.

10 months after Hydra’s shutdown, the darkish net market nonetheless fails to regain its former momentum. In accordance with Chainalysis, the highest three contenders for the most important market on the dark net have emerged: OMG!OMG! Market, Blacksprut and Mega Darknet Market.

First, OMG!OMG! grew to become the market leader and achieved just over 65% of the underground market’s income, but after the DDoS attack in June, its positions have been shaken and a stream of customers to its rivals mega darknet market Market and Blacksprut Market started. For the time being there is no such thing as a clear chief amongst dark web marketplaces.

In keeping with Chainalysis, 4 of the 5 most successful dark net marketplaces give attention to promoting illegal substances. Brian Dumps’ fifth platform is the just one among the largest underground marketplaces buying and selling stolen credit score playing cards and numerous private information. Chainalysis analysts known as this market a "scam shop". According to them, Brian Dumps had problems in October final 12 months, and his revenue for that month dropped to zero, but the reason for the problems remained unknown.

As the study has shown, providing cryptocurrency and fiat cash laundering services is the principle approach to attract former Hydra customers through underground marketplaces.

In accordance with Chainalysis, marketplaces Mega Darknet, Blacksprut, and OMG have started providing cryptocurrency money laundering companies to attract former Hydra users. Analysts additionally famous that there's proof of collaboration between these platforms.

In accordance with Eric Jardine, Head of Cybercrime Research at Chainalysis, darkish net marketplaces are becoming financial service providers for cybercriminals. In accordance with Karl Steinkamp of cybersecurity consultancy Coalfire, the existence of such companies encourages attackers to commit new cybercrimes involving digital assets.