Site icon On DarkNet – Dark Web News and Analysis

A brief history of the dark web summarized by dark web forum Dread: 2008-2024

admin

Recently, "PM_ME_YOUR_APPLAUSES", a user of the Dark Web forum Dread, published a rather amazing and stunning post "A Summary of the Dark Web: 2008-2024". The post organizes the past and present of the Dark Web and cryptocurrencies, and summarizes the history of the Dark Web from 2008 to 2024, making it a veritable history of the Dark Web. "ODN" is republishing the article and sharing it with you.

Before 2008: The Proto-Dark Web

The dark web was a loose concept. Anonymity networks like Tor existed for activists and journalists, but organized illicit trade was scattered and rudimentary. Despite this, there were several private darknet forums for drug sales and trades. These forums, mostly on the clearnet but requiring an invitation and login, were early predecessors to the marketplaces we recognize today. The recruitment of users to these forums occurred mainly through public clearnet drug and pharmacy discussion boards, highlighting the early stages of community formation that would later define the dark web's infrastructure. One of these forums, The Book Club, initially opened to the public to quickly build a userbase before transitioning to invitation-only. Some of these private forums transitioned to onion services between 2008 and 2011, marking the beginning of a more structured approach to anonymity and security in the digital underground.

2008: The Genesis of Potential

Bitcoin was born, an untraceable digital currency, paired with Tor, setting the stage for what would become the dark web’s economic backbone. Early adopters saw potential where most saw chaos. During this foundational year, several private forums on the clearnet began operating, offering drug sales and trades to a select community. These forums required invitations and logins, making them precursors to the later, more structured darknet markets. Recruitment to these forums was primarily through public drug discussion boards, highlighting the early, covert network-building that would define the dark web's evolution.

2009: Groundwork and Experimentation

Cryptographic enthusiasts began tinkering, envisioning hidden online marketplaces. Forums buzzed with theories, and early attempts at anonymous trade stumbled, yet each failure taught valuable lessons. The groundwork for the dark web's financial infrastructure was being laid, with Bitcoin gradually gaining attention among digital privacy advocates. This year marked important technical strides in the development of Bitcoin, setting the stage for its future role as the primary currency for darknet transactions.

2010: Approaching the Crucible

Feeder sites that rated drug vendors, online pharmacy forums, and blogs began to influence the landscape. Before the establishment of Silk Road, Bitcoin was not widely recognized or trusted for drug payments within these circles. Payment methods included centralized "digital gold currencies" like e-gold, Liberty Reserve, and Pecunix, as well as Western Union, Moneygram, and cash in mail. During this period, GreenDot MoneyPaks were also a popular payment method until regulatory changes made them unsuitable. Bitcoin's potential started to be discussed more widely, setting the stage for its future prominence. It was only with the advent of Silk Road that Bitcoin began to gain traction among darknet users, moving from a little-understood digital currency to a preferred method for conducting anonymous transactions on the dark web. The vision of a hidden, secure marketplace crystallized further. The dark web community’s experimentation hinted at the massive disruption on the horizon. Additionally, The Majestic Garden⚠️ forum became known in this environment, a semi-private platform that periodically opened its doors to new members. It fostered a community of psychonauts who preferred substances like LSD, DMT, MDMA, mushrooms, and weed. Operating without an escrow system, it relied entirely on trust among users, highlighting a unique facet of community building on the dark web.

2011: The Silk Road Revolution

Ross Ulbricht launched Silk Road, the first true dark web marketplace. Leveraging Tor and Bitcoin, it offered a haven for anonymous trade. Silk Road’s success turned the abstract into reality, igniting the dark web economy. Meanwhile, Black Market Reloaded (BMR) also began to gain traction as an alternative marketplace. In this pivotal year, the broader potential of Bitcoin was realized within the underground economy, with earlier discussions on private forums paving the way for its adoption in high-profile platforms like Silk Road.

2012: Flourishing in the Shadows

Silk Road thrived, inspiring a proliferation of marketplaces. The dark web ecosystem expanded, becoming more sophisticated. LE, slow to catch on, struggled to keep up with the digital hydra.

2013: The Fall of a Titan

The FBI took down Silk Road, capturing Ulbricht. Yet, the hydra sprouted new heads—Silk Road 2.0 and others emerged. Black Market Reloaded saw increased user activity, despite security challenges. The dark web community, resilient and undeterred, adapted swiftly.

2014: Operation Onymous and Resilience

Operation Onymous saw global LE seize several marketplaces. Yet, the dark web proved antifragile. Silk Road 2.0’s fall led to the rise of AlphaBay and other robust platforms. The closure of BMR marked the end of an era, but it also signaled the community's ongoing adaptability and resilience.

2015: Hydra, Evolution’s Exit Scam and Agora's Graceful Exit

AlphaBay ascended, but Evolution’s infamous exit scam in March underscored the inherent risks. New contenders like Nucleus and Dream Market filled the void, embodying the dark web’s relentless dynamism. Agora's exit in August marked a significant moment, as it voluntarily shut down to prioritize users' safety, setting a precedent for responsible operation in the dark web ecosystem. Hydra Market becomes a significant player in the dark web landscape, offering not only illegal drugs but also a variety of financial services that facilitate money laundering and the exchange between cryptocurrency and Russian rubles. Its unique offerings help it stand out among other darknet markets.

2016: AlphaBay’s Dominance

AlphaBay became the premier marketplace, while ransomware proliferated, intertwining cybercrime with the dark web. Monero’s rise highlighted the shift towards enhanced transaction anonymity.

2017: Takedowns and Adaptation

AlphaBay and Hansa Market fell to coordinated LE strikes. Yet, Dream Market and others quickly absorbed the exodus. The dark web, a phoenix in digital ashes, continued its dance of subterfuge.

2018: Persistent Innovation and Community Disruption

Dream Market led amidst instability. New marketplaces like Wall Street and Point rose. LE’s persistent raids were met with the dark web’s relentless innovation and decentralization efforts. The crackdown on /r/darknetmarkets dispersed the community, but the emergence of Dread offered a new platform for users to reconnect and share information. Despite the setback, the community's resilience and adaptability shone through, maintaining the dark web's vibrant and dynamic nature.

2019: Dream Market’s Closure

Dream Market’s shutdown in April caused a temporary disarray, but Empire Market and White House Market swiftly rose. Operation Disarray highlighted global LE’s tenacity, yet the dark web’s resilience prevailed.

2020: Pandemic-Induced Surge

The COVID-19 pandemic spiked demand for counterfeit PPE and fake vaccines. Archetyp Market, launched in May 2020, gained attention for its security features and use of Monero (XMR) for transactions, setting new standards in the market.

2021: Enhanced Pressures

Operation Dark HunTor and the takedown of DarkMarket marked significant LE victories. Yet, Versus and ToRReZ markets emerged, showcasing the dark web’s adaptability amidst heightened pressures.

2022: Decentralized Ascent

Decentralization surged with platforms like OpenBazaar gaining traction. Privacy coins like Monero became standard. Despite Operation SpecTor II, the dark web community’s innovation persisted. The end of Hydra's long run as the dominant force on the dark web, sparked conflicts over the Russian darknet drug markets due to its closure. Despite the significant disruption, the underlying network of administrators and managers behind Hydra Market remains undiscovered and unarrested.

2023: The Year of Exit Scams and Enforcement

The dark web faced significant disruptions due to a series of exit scams and intensified LE actions. Early in the year, the Kilos exchange vanished, likely exit scamming users, setting a troubling precedent. High-profile arrests, including Alexander Vinnik, highlighted ongoing LE efforts. Despite these challenges, the community adapted. The Incognito team launched Libre Forum, and Dread re-launched with new DDoS defenses. However, issues persisted with several platforms pausing or shutting down, such as BreachForums and Tor Market. Exit scams were rampant, with Elude and CryptBB facing significant accusations. Despite these disruptions, the dark web community demonstrated resilience and adaptability, continuing to evolve in the face of adversity.

2024: Escalation and Innovation

Despite relentless LE operations, the community’s resilience and innovation remained unyielding. From abstract beginnings to a sprawling underground economy, the dark web has epitomized antifragility. Each LE strike, each marketplace takedown, only fueled its evolution. Technologies advanced, communities adapted, and a relentless pursuit of anonymity and resistance to control remained the dark web’s core ethos. In a perpetual dance of subterfuge, the dark web proved that in chaos, there is opportunity—and in every disruption, a chance to evolve and thrive.

Exit mobile version