Abacus Darknet Market Disappears After Handling $100M in Sales

Abacus Market has suddenly vanished, sending shockwaves through the darknet community and leaving thousands of users stranded. For years, it dominated Western darknet trade using Bitcoin and Monero. Now, it is gone—with no warning and millions in customer funds likely lost.

Good to know

• Abacus Market vanished in early July 2025, right after a spike in sales.
• TRM Labs suspects an exit scam after a sharp drop in deposits and stalled withdrawals.
• The darknet is shifting further toward Russian-speaking markets, now controlling over 97% of global darknet drug trade.

Abacus Market had become a household name in darknet circles, especially after law enforcement seized Archetyp Market in mid-2025. With competitors falling away, users flooded to Abacus, spiking its sales to $6.3 million for the month. But that sudden growth may have been too much.

The platform, once known as Alphabet Market before rebranding in 2021, had grown its market share from 10% in 2022 to over 70% by 2024. It stood out for its focus on the Australian user base, use of centralized wallets with multisig support, and its embrace of both Bitcoin and Monero.

Yet, toward the end of June, users began reporting stalled withdrawals. The site administrator, known as “Vito,” blamed DDoS attacks and heavy traffic after Archetyp’s shutdown. He posted on forums to calm nerves, but skepticism was growing fast.

TRM Labs, a blockchain analysis firm, flagged the situation as suspicious. By early July, Abacus had shut down its clearnet mirror and all infrastructure, disappearing without a trace. The drop in user trust was evident: deposits fell from $230,000 daily in early June to just $13,000 by July, and transactions dropped from 1,400 to barely 100 per day.

Signs Point to an Exit Strategy

Some speculated about a potential law enforcement takedown, but Dread forum admin Hugbunter, who had contact with Abacus staff, ruled that out. Instead, all signs pointed to a traditional darknet exit strategy. TRM Labs suggested that with increasing scrutiny, the admins may have decided it was safer—and more profitable—to vanish with the funds.

Historically, this playbook is not new. Past darknet giants like Evolution Market vanished with customer assets, while others like Agora Market shut down voluntarily to avoid the heat. Few have faced consequences.

Meanwhile, darknet activity has not slowed down—it has just shifted. TRM Labs reported that Russian-speaking platforms now dominate. After Hydra’s shutdown in 2022, newer Russian markets took over fast. By 2024, they accounted for 97% of global darknet drug revenues. In contrast, many Western platforms now fade after rebrands or disappear through exit scams rather than trying full relaunches.