Europol closes one of the longest running dark web marketplaces, Archetyp Market, but blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs says the marketplaces greatly fit the shutdowns.
Europol Says On Monday it closed the main infrastructure of the Archetyp Market in the Netherlands through a series of attacks involving six countries.
The major personal and technical infrastructure archetyp are targeted by the raids, who saw the alleged administrator, a National German, arrested in Spain, along with Europol who said they also arrested a moderator and six of the largest sellers of the site in Germany and Sweden.
Such a dark web -based market relies on cryptocurrencies for trade, and Archetyp used the Monero’s (XMR) privacy -dedicated token for its transactions.
The market has been running for five years, and Europol said it lasted “years of intensive investigation work,” along with monitoring financial flows, to overthrow the site and its alleged operators.
Dark markets on the web down but not outside
Despite increasing law enforcement efforts, Blockchain Intelligence Firm TRM Labs Says In a report on Monday that even when the dark web platform collapsed, “the ecosystem remains highly adapted,” with prohibited Vendors that set shop in apps such as telegram and signals.
“Peer-to-peer models offer faster rotation times, reduced fees, and a lower risk of takedown platforms, complex implementation efforts,” said the TRM Labs.
After 2022 closing of Russian Hydra MarketplaceA new Russian market emerged to replace it almost immediately, the TRM Labs said.
“Although some Darknet operators, especially Western Darknet markets, have historically tested rebrands or exit scams following the action of law enforcement, full rebuilds appear to be less common,” he added.
Archetyp comparable to Silk Road
Europol said Archetyp has a user base of over 600,000, a total transaction volume of at least 250 million euros ($ 287 million) and more than 17,000 listings, with the majority dedicated to selling illicit drugs, including cocaine, MDMA and Amphetamines.
It is also one of the few dark web markets that allows the sale of fentanyl and synthetic opioids.
“The endurance, scale and reputation of the platform within a criminal community put it next to DarkNet Darknet markets such as Dream Market and Silk Road, both well-known in their role in facilitating online drug trafficking,” Europol said.
Dark Web Market Operator tactics to prevent law
TRM LABS said law enforcement is Having success in getting Darknet platformsBut their operators use tactics such as pseudonymous domain registration, rapidly rebranding after going down and laundering proceeds by high-risk Crypto exchange to avoid law.
Related: Telegram’s largest darknet market exists’
“The takedown of the Archetyp Market is a clear signal that law enforcement agencies, supported by advanced blockchain intelligence, can interfere with even the most hidden illicit platforms,” the TRM Labs said
“But the stability and evolution of these networks emphasizes the need for continued cross-border cooperation, innovative technology, and real-time monitoring to stay ahead of the next generation of Darknet threats.”
Magazine: Coinbase Hack shows the law probably won’t protect you: here’s why
