Abacus Market was the largest Bitcoin-enabled Western darknet marketplace, serving illicit drug transactions and cybercrime services such as stolen credentials, phishing kits and fraud-as-a-service. With its vendor verification system, customer service focus and 2FA-enabled escrow wallets it stood apart from competitors.

As soon as Archetyp Market collapsed in June, vendors and buyers coordinated recovery efforts on forums such as Dread. On-chain analysis revealed an abrupt liquidity drop that suggested either an exit scam or covert law enforcement seizure was occurring.

Launched in 2021

Alphabet Market was initially known as Alphabet Market until being rebranded to Abacus later that year, after rival ASAP and Incognito markets closed voluntarily in July 2023 and March 2024, respectively. Abacus became so popular it accounted for up to 70% of Western darknet market activity by late 2024; by that point it facilitated over $300 Million worth of Monero payments without leaving a traceable trail behind it.

TRM Labs notes that Abacus listings contained not only illicit drugs and precursor chemicals but also an assortment of cybercrime tools and fraud services – suggesting an exit scam as its sudden closure without seizure banner or law enforcement intervention suggests.

Abacus’ disappearance caused havoc across the darknet ecosystem, prompting vendors to migrate away from Abacus and to other marketplaces like DrugHub, MGM Grand Market and TorZon Market. By employing SOCRadar organizations can reduce risks by monitoring forums and marketplaces for stolen credentials or counterfeit goods targeted against their brand – this allows proactive takedowns that reduce customer exploitation or brand impersonation risks.

Disappeared in 2025

Launched to fill the void left by Archetyp’s takedown, Abacus Market quickly established itself as the go-to marketplace for Western users. By late 2024, Abacus Market represented over 70% of all darknet market activity and had processed around $300 Million using hard-to-trace Monero payments.

The site earned a stellar reputation among users due to features like vendor review systems, 2-Factor Authentication (2FA) security measures and escrow options that helped establish trust between user and vendor. Furthermore, its wide array of narcotics, hacking tools, stolen data and financial fraud services such as phishing kits and credit card information made it one of the premier hubs for illicit trade in the stealer malware ecosystem.

However, Abacus’s mysterious disappearance without an official seizure banner or link from law enforcement raised concern among many members of its community. TRM Labs speculates that its operators may have seen what had happened with Archetyp and decided to close down before drawing too much attention from authorities; such strategies have proven successful recently with darknet markets going dark only to reappear months later as linked arrests against them were made.

Reportedly Seized by Law Enforcement

Abacus Market was one of the leading darknet marketplaces supporting Bitcoin transactions and suddenly went offline without notice, possibly as part of an exit scam or covert law enforcement takedown.

The marketplace was a hub for illicit drugs and other illicit products such as stolen credit card information and identity fraud services, in addition to cryptocurrency sales estimated at $300 million (including hard-to-trace Monero).

Initial warning signs emerged in June when users began reporting withdrawal delays. Archetyp Market administrator “Vito,” responded on darknet forum Dread by attributing them to an unexpectedly large influx of Archetyp Market users fleeing and sustained DDoS attacks; however, on-chain analysis revealed that Archetyp Market deposit transactions plummeted 94% between June 28 and July 10, which may signal an exit scam scheme.

Disrupted by DDoS Attacks

When Abacus Market rose to the top of Bitcoin-enabled Western darknet markets for volume, users, and listings, law enforcement was powerless to stop it. When Archetyp Market shut down voluntarily and Incognito was taken by authorities voluntarily or forcibly it only strengthened Abacus Market as new users flooded in, driving monthly sales records to $6.3 Million!

But in early July, Abacus suddenly went dark; all servers and backup mirrors on the clearnet disappeared with administrator “Vito” attributing it to a DDoS attack; speculation still suggests its operators pulled an exit scam by pocketing user funds held in escrow; law enforcement’s preference for covert disruptions rather than outright marketplace shutdowns may indicate they may have done just this – with Abacus’s departure highlighting how sustained law enforcement pressure has dampened DNM innovation while pushing users towards script-based alternatives or encrypted chat platforms.