AlphaBay was once the most significant dark web marketplace, according to the FBI, making it the largest of its kind ever to exist. In 2017, the platform was shut down during Operation Bayonet, but law enforcement was unable to apprehend several key staff members, including DeSnake, its co-founder and security administrator.
On August 7th, 2021, DeSnake resurrected AlphaBay after verifying his identity through PGP, forum administrators, former AlphaBay staff (who were not captured), and multiple security experts.
AlphaBay Market: A Vision-Driven Marketplace
AlphaBay Market has always been a principle-driven, community-focused marketplace and forum for all kinds of black-market items. The platform is known for its experienced management, unmatched security, and round-the-clock support from highly-trained staff. It was also the innovator behind many features now common across other marketplaces, such as sticky listings, featured listings, autoshops, Monero payments, PGP-signed addresses, and shared vendor accounts.
Unique Features of AlphaBay
AlphaBay Market continues to set itself apart with a range of innovative features, including:
- AlphaGuard: This system protects both buyers’ and vendors’ wallets in the event of a police raid by allowing them to finalize escrows, resolve disputes, and withdraw funds.
- Automated Dispute Resolver (ADR): This automated system facilitates dispute resolution between buyers and sellers by offering options like reshipping, partial refunds, escrow extensions, and more, all without needing a human moderator.
- Advanced Trust/Distrust System: Both buyers and vendors benefit from an enhanced trust/distrust system and a thorough review process.
- Default Buyer Privacy: All profiles are private by default, and purchase history is only shared with the vendor involved in a transaction.
These features, along with many others, have positioned AlphaBay Market to reclaim its status as a leading marketplace.
AlphaBay’s Decentralization Vision
DeSnake is currently working on building a decentralized marketplace network, which aims to unite markets and vendor shops globally. This innovative network will make law enforcement takedowns virtually impossible, marking a significant evolution in the dark web market landscape.
Current Status
AlphaBay is no longer operational, and its administrator, DeSnake, has been arrested by law enforcement.
AlphaBay Market URLs:
- Marketplace URL:
alphabay522szl32u4ci5e3iokdsyth56ei7rwngr2wm7i5jo54j2eid.onion - AlphaBay Market I2P link:
tnaefzkcnhryeusi7hdpqujqiqmnbtah3dmjcg3gvezohunjuxbq.b32.i2p - AlphaBay Market Alternative links: N/A
- Forum URL: N/A
STATUS: Seized by Law Enforcement
| Item type | Detailed Stats |
|---|---|
| Name | Alphabay Market |
| Established | Dec 2014 |
| Main url | alphabay522szl32u4ci5e3iokdsyth56ei7rwngr2wm7i5jo54j2eid.onion |
| Support Multisig | |
| Security Issues | |
| Active Warnings | None |
| 2 Factor Authentication | |
| Finalize Early | Allowed |
| Commission | 2 to 4% |
| Vendor Bond | 1 XMR |
| Forced Vendor Pgp | Yes |
| Total Listings | 34k (As of July 2022) |
| Business volume (weekly) | N/A |
| Current Status | Active |
