11 Safest Best Dark Web Marketplaces

The dark web may be a frightening and unpredictable place, but for those who know what they’re doing, it can also be a valuable resource. Dark web marketplaces provide a venue for buying and selling illegal goods on a small and large scale.

In this blog article, we’ll look at the safest and most trustworthy dark web marketplaces that you could visit in 2023. So, whether you’re looking to buy illegal items or services, these marketplaces provide a safe and user-friendly environment. 

So, if you’re ready to plunge into the realm of the dark web, scroll down and read on as I take you through the safest dark web marketplaces to visit in 2023.

Are Dark Web Marketplaces Really Safe?

This is a question everyone is supposed to ask before indulging in dark web marketplaces. Dark Web marketplaces are safe, but I strongly advise that before entering any of the dark web marketplaces, proper precautions should be taken, such as encrypting online traffic with a VPN. 

There are a few other things you can do to ensure you are on the safe side when using the dark web marketplaces, and they include:

• Use a privacy-focused browser.
• Disable Javascript in the browser.
• Use a VPN service.
• Keep the firewall active.

Having said that, let’s dive into the safest dark web marketplaces to look out for in 2023.

11 Safest Best Dark Web Marketplaces

1. Tor2door Market
2. Cartel Market
3. Vice City
4. ASAP Market
5. Liberty Market
6. Tor market
7. Kingdom Market
8. Royal Market
9. Abacus Market
10. Archetyp Market
11. Cypher

1. Tor2door Market

Tor2Door is one of the top dark web marketplaces. This marketplace was launched about a few years ago, and it offers a diverse range of listings for both physical and digital items. It has an entirely unique design and is simple to use. Its operators claim to have created the market from scratch.

The market has over 10,000 listings in total, and vendors service in all commonly supplied parts of the world. Tor2Door has refined the usage of multisig escrow for individuals who wish to conduct their purchases this way.

One of the more intriguing aspects of Tor2Door is its Exchange tool, which allows users to effortlessly convert between BTC and XMR. This is especially useful for vendors who want to change their revenues into one of the coins before withdrawing them.

Payment Methods

Tor2Door allows payments in Bitcoin (BTC) and Monero (XMR) using the standard market account and escrow system. It also has a quite well-prepared multisig option, which allows purchasers to employ a 2/3 escrow system.

Pros

• Intriguing user interface
• Large selection of listings for physical and digital products.
• Diverse payment options

Cons

• No per-order or “prepay” options.

2. Cartel Market

Cartel Marketplace is a relatively new, mid-sized dark web market that specializes in drugs but also sells self-defense goods, electronics, and even hosting. Cartel promotes itself as a “user-friendly, intuitive, and entertaining marketplace.”

Indeed, the market makes things a lot easier for consumers by providing several payment options (including Direct Pay and Multisig) and making their goods easy to find. They do not require 2-FA and do not require PGP encryption of messages. While this may make Cartel less safe, it is undeniably more user-friendly than many other dark web marketplaces.

Cartel Marketplace has approximately 9,000 listings, the majority of which are for chemicals. Cartel’s key categories include Fraud, Drugs & Chemicals, Guides & Tutorials, Counterfeit Items, Software & Malware, Security & Hosting, Digital Products, and other physical items.

Payment Methods

Cartel allows payment in both Bitcoin (BTC) and Monero (XMR). They allow both Direct Pay (per-order payments) and the Regular Account Wallet Method, which means you can credit your account before placing an order. The Cartel Market also offers Multisig for BTC payments for individuals who choose not to use Escrow or Direct Pay.

Pros

• A wide selection of payment options is available.
• Easy-to-use interface
• Dedicated admin with a presence on several community forums.

Cons

• The site is slow most of the time

3. Vice City

Vice City is a well-known and popular TOR-based marketplace that was founded in May 2020 and has since attracted a committed population of customers and sellers.

Vice City was one of the first dark web marketplaces to prohibit the selling of pornographic materials, which helps to reduce clutter. Fentanyl sales, among other things, have been prohibited. Though the market does not have a large number of listings, it does have a good range of popular drugs and digital products.

Vice City currently has over 10,000 listings in total, with medications and pharmaceuticals accounting for roughly 70% of those. Benzos, Cann*bis, Dissociatives, Ecstasy, Opioids, Prescriptions, Psychedelics, Steroids, and Stimulants are some of the categories for listings.

Vice City might not be your first choice when selecting a dark web marketplace, but having been at it for over two years now, they’ve managed to make some strides in developing a loyal user base.

Payment Methods

Vice City accepts payments in Bitcoin (BTC), Monero (XMR), and the standard account wallet method. In addition to regular Escrow payments, Vice City allows Multisig and FE (finalize early) payment methods, although the latter two are unavailable to all vendors.

Pros

• Simple, straightforward registration process.
• Diverse payment options are available
• An adequate, well-rounded selection of popular items.
• Responsive support and moderation team.

Cons

• The site appears a little bit slow
• The market layout is not the best design.

4. ASAP Market

ASAP Market is one of the largest dark web marketplaces, with a diverse range of listing categories. The market was renamed ASEAN Market shortly after its initial introduction. The ASAP Market has only been in operation for two years, yet it has quickly gained popularity – all thanks to its extensive listing variety.

ASAP Market features around 17,000 listings in total, making it one of the bigger markets accessible right now. The listings are organized into the following categories: Stimulants, RCs, Cannabis & Hash, Drug Paraphernalia, Steroids, Barbiturates, Fraud, Weight Loss, Ecstasy, Prescription, Opioids, Counterfeits, Dissociatives, Digital Goods, Benzos, and Psychedelics.

ASAP is a rather clumsy but successful darknet bazaar filled with digital stuff and fraud-related merchandise. Its suppliers are often smaller and less established, but this does not always suggest that they are bad; rather, they are less experienced.

Payment Methods

ASAP Market accepts Bitcoin (BTC) and Monero (XMR) as payment. The market utilizes the traditional central account wallet system, which implies that users must first deposit coins to cover an order before making it. Some suppliers are granted FE-only access, which means that any orders submitted through them must be Finalize Early orders.

Pros

• Employs 2-FA, automated systems for detecting vendor fraud.
• Easy-to-use interface
• Wide selection of listings and products

Cons

• Slow page loading times.
• Does not force PGP encryption.

5. Liberty Market

Liberty Market, which was created in December 2020, is a well-maintained darknet market. After the recent collapse of the White House Market, this darknet market grew in popularity and has since become one of the safest dark web markets.

Liberty is a newer market, barely two years old, hence it has fewer listings, with a little over 6,000 items and services displayed at any given moment. The majority of these entries, like with other darknet markets, are in the Drugs category. Liberty also has categories such as Fraud, Digital Products (E-books, Fraud software, Game keys, etc.), Counterfeits, Services, and Software.

Liberty’s clean and straightforward design is one of our favorite perks about the site. It is not crowded and is quite simple to use. Its simple interface makes it easier to find out everything you need to know about a product without having to browse several pages or tabs.

Payment Methods

Similar to the previous dark web marketplaces listed, the liberty market accepts Bitcoin (BTC) and Monero (XMR) as payment methods. It also utilizes the standard account wallet system, where you have to fund your wallet before initiating a purchase. Though order types seem to be limited to escrow and finalize early (FE), Liberty says that multisig transactions are available.

Pros

• Easy-to-use interface
• Diverse payment options are available
• Visually friendly
• Non-cluttered

Cons

• Somewhat limited in product and service listings.

6. Tor Market

Tor Market is by far one of the oldest dark web marketplaces on our list. This market has been in the game since 2018 (although there have been some hiccups and occasional downtime). Although it has yet to gain much traction among buyers or vendors, this marketplace has a lot of intriguing perks.

Tor Market is one of the smallest darknet markets, with less than 1000 listings in total. Some of the market categories include benzodiazepines, cann*bis, cann*bis edibles, cann*bis extracts, cannabis seeds, dissociatives, ecstasy, ketamine, opioids, psychedelics, steroids, and stimulants.

Payment Methods

Tor Market accepts four alternative coins as deposit options: Bitcoin (BTC), Monero (XMR), Litecoin (LTC), and Zcash (ZEC).

Tor Market, as opposed to the typical market account structure, employs a per-order payment method. It also supports FE orders (or “no escrow” orders) for established vendors.

Pros

• Simple, secure layout which is easy to navigate.
• Supports four different coins, including BTC and XMR.
• Uses per-order payments, and no central account system.

Cons

• Prone to downtime on occasion.
• Not a lot of advanced features or flexibility.
• Small listing and products

7. Kingdom Market

Kingdom Market is a newer darknet market that was launched in April 2021 but was just recently approved for inclusion on Dread, the premier forum for dark web marketplaces. It has a one-of-a-kind website design that is unlike any other marketplace we’ve reviewed being straightforward and simple to use.

Kingdom Market features about 5,000 listings, and has divided their listings into the following categories: Drugs, Services, Security & Hosting, Miscellaneous, Jewelry, Identification, Guides & Tutorials, Fraud, Counterfeit, Software & Malware, and Carded Items.

Payment Methods

Similar to Tor Market, Kingdom Market accepts four alternative coins as deposit options: Bitcoin (BTC), Monero (XMR), Litecoin (LTC), and Zcash (ZEC). Kingdom Market also utilizes the traditional account wallet deposit system, which means it is at a higher risk of exit scams and phishing impostors.

Pros

• Features a straightforward site design that is easy for novices to use.
• Supports 4 different cryptos for deposits, including Bitcoin (BTC) and Litecoin (LTC)
• Admins maintain an active presence on Dread with a decent-sized community.

Cons

• No pre-order payments or multisig
• PGP encryption is not enforced.

8. Royal Market

Royal Market is one of the safest dark web marketplaces that became live in October 2020. This market features a basic interface that allows users to navigate and discover whatever goods and services they want.

There are over 22,000 listings hosted on Royal Market on any given day, making it one of the biggest dark web marketplaces currently in operation. Categories hosted by Royal include Counterfeit, Steroids, Fraud Documents, Drug Recipes, Benzos, Leaks, Psychedelics, Prescription, Stimulants, Opioids, Dissociatives, Ecstasy, and Tutorials. 

As with most dark web marketplaces, Cann*bis is their most popular category, though they also have a large number of digital listings as well. One of the coolest things about Royal Market is that they have a few different tutorials available on-site for both Windows and Linux PCs.

Payment Methods

Royal Market accepts Bitcoin (BTC) and Monero (XMR) as payment methods. It also uses the per-order payment method (also known as Direct Pay), which means that there is no centralized wallet that keeps all user funds. A deposit is only required at the time of payment.

Pros

• Intuitive interface, easy-to-use design.
• Large number of vendors and listings.
• Per-Order (Direct Pay) payment system.

Cons

• Lots of spam listings in non-physical item categories.
• No support for Multisig or other payment options.

9. Abacus Market

Abacus Market is a lesser-known dark web marketplace that has yet to acquire the trust of many users in its year of operation. To prevent confusion with the recently re-launched AlphaBay, the market was renamed from ‘Alphabet’ in October 2021.

Abacus Market has over 2,800 listings, the majority of which are in the Fraud category, although more than half of them are accounts for other services. Drugs & Chemicals, Counterfeit Items, Digital Products, Guides & Tutorials, Jewels & Gold, Carded Items, Software & Malware, Security & Hosting, and Other Listings are among the other categories hosted.

The Drugs category is meticulously organized into over two dozen subcategories, making it extremely simple to find the particular product you’re searching for. Abacus also has the standard search and filter options that come with this market template.

Payment Methods

Abacus accepts payments in Bitcoin (BTC) and Monero (XMR). While it uses the regular account wallet structure, it does handle Multisig 2/3 payments, which certain sellers utilize.

Pros

• Supports XMR.
• Easy-to-use interface
• Supports BTC Multisig (for some vendors).

Cons

• A limited selection of vendors and products.
• No per-order (‘prepay’) payment support.

10. Archetyp Market

Archetyp is a darknet market for drugs that was founded in May 2020. The market now has over 850 listings from 247 vendors, making it small, compared to other medium-sized darknet markets. It utilizes the traditional account wallet and escrow structure; therefore, there are no direct pay or multisig alternatives.

Archetyp is considerably simpler and easier to navigate than most others because it is a drug-only market. One unique feature of Archetyp is its ‘Games’ section.

Here, you can place bets on political and social events, as well as bets on the market itself. Using the market’s Deadpool function, you can even bet on how darknet markets will collapse (bust, exit fraud, or retire).

Archetyp’s listings are organized into the following categories: Cannabis, Stimulants, Ecstasy, Opiates, Benzodiazepines, Psychedelic, Prescriptions, Steroids, and Dissociatives. Cannabis is by far the most popular category, with over 230 items at any one moment.

Payment Methods

Archetyp accepts only Monero (XMR) as a means of deposit.

Pros

• Simple, straightforward market with a good UI.
• XMR-only forced PGP encryption.

Cons

• Limited to drugs, medications, and research chemicals.
• No Direct Pay or Finalize Early options.
• Fewer listings available

11. Cypher

Cypher Market is a minor darknet market that has been operating for more than a year but has received little notice from the wider community. Cypher’s signup process is straightforward, requiring only the registration of a username and password.

They also include a rare “Latest Orders” area in the lower left panel of the main market screen, which highlights the most recent purchases made by market buyers.

Cypher presently has a little more than 3,000 items, half of which are medicines, and the other half are the standard guides and software/malware entries seen in all other marketplaces.

Drugs, hosting and security, counterfeiting, software and malware, guides and tutorials, and others are among the areas covered by Cypher.

Payment Methods

Although some retailers may only take one coin, Cypher Market accepts both Bitcoin (BTC) and Monero (XMR). Unlike typical marketplaces, Cypher does not have an account wallet system and all payments are handled on a per-order basis.

Pros

• Easy, quick registration process.
• No central account/wallet system.
• Fast page loading times.

Cons

• Limited vendor and listing selection.

Summary

While the dark web marketplace may be a hazardous and unexpected place, it can also be a beneficial resource with the proper understanding and safeguards. 

The dark web marketplaces covered in this blog post provide a safe and user-friendly environment for anyone wishing to purchase products or services on the dark web. However, keep in mind that surfing dark web marketplaces is illegal and may put you in danger. 

If you decide to explore the dark web marketplace, be sure to use a VPN, encrypt your conversation with PGP, and always be mindful of the risks involved. Remember that even the most secure dark web marketplaces are not immune to scams and fraud, so always be cautious and conduct thorough research before making any purchases.

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