It seems like the dark web is undergoing one of the most groundbreaking shifts in its history. Any service related to selling illegal goods is no stranger to government powers, undermining their existence. Cyberattacks and exit scams are also common motives among the darknet markets for fleeing the scene.

However, during the past few months, the biggest conceptual leap unexpectedly took place. Several renowned platforms (ToRReZ, White House Market, and Cannazon, to be precise) decided to gracefully retire, saving plenty of money & trouble to their users by allowing them to withdraw the funds within a reasonable amount of time.

Yet, many markets continue to mysteriously disappear like Monopoly, Cartel, and Liberty, leaving the audience to wonder whether they exit scammed (the case of Empire market is a classic illustration of this tale as old as time) or shut down by a law enforcement operation, such as AlphaBay which was recently revived (allegedly, by one of its former administrators).

Of course, the dark web is immensely resilient. Hence, both vendors and buyers will efficiently regroup and find a new place to conduct their illicit business. Although a vast number of new marketplaces flooded the darknet lately, there are certain websites that are operating long enough to become known as a safe harbor for all types of illegal activity. Dark0de Market is a perfect example of such a place.

Surely, Dark0de is far from dominating the entire darknet market, as AlphaBay did back in the day. But, as reported by Flare, a well-known provider of very robust solutions for digital protection, Dark0de Market is one of the most impactful e-commerce platforms nowadays. Let’s see if the website really can live up to these high standards.

The data was published in November 2021 by Flare.

Overview

 

The first Dark0de market existed from 2007 to 2015 and was a forum-based trading place. This Dark0de market emerged in May 2020 and is not a direct successor of the true original platform. Still, its admins pledge to stay committed to the legacy and adhere to the same principles as the predecessor.

Naturally, a reputable name managed to induce some former Dark0de buyers and sellers to the new site. Yet, there are other advantages that attract people to this particular provider. Modern Dark0de presents its users with proven functionalities combined with new technologies and a well-versed design.

Basic Features

 

Launched	May 2020
Current Status	Running
Specialization	Universal
Number of Listings	~ 70 000
Traditional Escrow	Yes
Escrow with Multisig	Yes
Accepted Cryptocurrencies	Bitcoin (BTC) & Monero (XMR)
URL	darkode3dfqeb4y7l3rpmhdtbao2pdducx6uedrnlcvbsfkesfg2u7id.onion
Short URL	dark.pe/d0d
Finalize Early (FE)	Yes, for eligible vendors
2-factor authentication with PGP encryption	Yes
Vendor Bond	$200 (Level 1), $1000 (Level 2/Gold), $2000 (Level 3/Diamond)
Commission	3.5% for buyers & sellers alike
Withdrawal fee	1.5% (no withdrawal limits)
Wallet-free payments	No

Dark0de Market Dark Web Link

Dark0de is a darknet market. Thus, you can access it solely via the onion link. Tor browser is the most preferable solution in this case. It permits you to surf both clearnet and deep web. Plus, it has mobile and desktop versions.

You can get the Dark0de market onion links here:

• http://darkode3dfqeb4y7l3rpmhdtbao2pdducx6uedrnlcvbsfkesfg2u7id.onion

• http://darkodedqw3bme25dgvrzvklc7l6dltl72v5gljib5rzu34uqb36hmqd.onion

You also can check the Dark0de market Tor URL & mirrors on these web portals:

• dark.pe

Registration & Login

Essentially, the whole registration/login procedure is stress-free and completely anonymous. All a user needs to do is stay focused and fill the forms with information that has no personal connections to his or her true identity.

The algorithm is simple:

1. Compare and verify the link you have with the one that the website shows you to avoid getting phished.
2. If everything is correct, confirm that you have the right onion address.
3. As any self-respecting darknet market, Dark0de has a captcha for DDoS protection. You have to solve it to proceed.
4. During the registration, you’ll need to fill in the form with standard information:

• Public & Private (secret) username;
• Password (+confirmation);
• PIN code for withdrawals (+confirmation).

As soon as your account is created, you can use a private username and password to access the platform. Don’t forget to check the public username displayed to you during the login process, so you don’t become a victim of phishing or other hacking attacks.

Privacy & Security

Everything is the moon and has a dark side. That’s why the darknet exists in the first place. However, you never know who’s waiting for you in the unlit space. Plus, if you wander unguided, you risk stumbling, falling, and getting hurt severely.

Hence, the importance of finding a marketplace that preserves your privacy and protects your interests is hard to underestimate. Still, even if the trading platform takes good care of its users, it doesn’t release you from responsibility to undertake proactive measures and protect your data with all the available tools. Let’s explore what both Dark0de and you can do to remain safe and anonymous.

Acceptance Policy for Vendors

The market’s standards for becoming a vendor largely determine the extent of safety within its trading community. Of course, Dark0de has comprehensive scan and anti-scam systems to monitor the behavior of both buyers and sellers, but it’s always more effective to prevent shady merchants from joining the platform than deal with the crippling consequences of their actions later.

Although Dark0de is not an “invitation only” marketplace, you have to pay a substantial, yet affordable initial vendor bond of $200 to become a Level 1 trader. Moreover, if you want to extend your selling privileges and evolve into a Gold (Level 2) or Diamond (Level 3) vendor, you’ll have to transfer to the Dark0de’s account $1000 and $2000 respectively. Naturally, every seller starts with the first level and then can gradually upgrade the store’s status.

There is no doubt that if you’re a reliable vendor with an established reputation, you’ll be welcome on any darknet market, and Dark0de is not an exception. Your vendor bond will be waived in case you manage to submit sufficient and visible proof to support your claims. Plus, if you can prove that you really are the face behind the brand’s name, the administration will be glad to integrate your reviews and feedback from other platforms. This scenario is mutually beneficial because the market gets to greet your loyal customers, while you don’t have to worry that potential clients will be hesitant to buy from you.

Collecting & Storing Personal Data

It’s immensely dangerous to leave traces of darknet activities for all the parties involved. Every unfortunate leakage can result in exposure, fraud, blackmail, or even criminal charges. That’s why it is important to stick to the platforms that found the way to preserve the balance between staying anonymous and minimizing the risks associated with conducting illegal business.

One of Dark0de’s key strengths is its genuinely multidimensional approach to dealing with sensitive data.

1. What info is fully displayed? Usernames, listings, order history, feedback, public keys, etc. Of course, feedback, order history, and other similar categories don’t reveal any personal details.
2. What data is fully encrypted? Messages to customer service (end-to-end encrypted), tickets and other support information, order and shipping info, and everything in your account that refers to access and financial matters.
3. Logs for signing in, system messages, and deposit information are kept for a very limited time only. All the messages (both incoming and sent) are deleted automatically after 40 days. Moreover, it is a mandatory requirement for sellers to erase all the information about the order after it is complete.
4. Private keys for PGP and cryptocurrency payments are not stored on the servers at all.
5. If your account remains inactive for a long period of time (~56 days), it will be permanently closed and removed together with all the related information.

PGP

Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) encryption is a darknet users’ 101 when it comes to keeping their communication safe. Therefore, the first thing you should do after the registration is going to your Profile and Settings to add the PGP key to the platform. The task is simple, you’ll have to import your public PGP key and then use your private PGP key to decrypt the message.

In the same section, you can find a 2-factor authentication feature. Enable it, this would be an effective addition to your account security. 2FA implies that every time you enter your profile, you’ll have to fill in the necessary credentials and decrypt a message with your private PGP key.

Precautions

If you seek to have no more government powers over your darknet activities (and clearnet too, for that matter), you should make this set of rules an inherent part of your Internet life.

1. Always verify that you have the real URL. Dark0de market link can be checked directly on the platform. Now, many websites tend to choose this approach as well.
2. Use Tor browser with disabled JavaScript (switch to the Safest mode in the Settings).
3. Turn on a reliable VPN service with a “no-logs” policy.
4. Install a dedicated operating system with enhanced privacy capabilities, like Whonix or Tails.
5. Don’t mix your darknet activities with idle browsing.
6. Never include personal details in your username, password, PIN code, or other credentials.
7. Store the data you need in a secure and private place.
8. Do your research on PGP and cryptocurrency.
9. Read more on operations security and darknet markets (study /d/OpSec or /d/DarknetMarketsNoobs).
10. Of course, refrain from using Google services to search for something like “how to buy drugs online fast”.

Product Range

A wide selection of products is the aspect where the Dark0de market outbids any other market and wins by a landslide. The numbers published by Flare are hard to argue with. Yet, Open Road & World Market links are still active, so the major competitors are hot on its tail.

The data was published in November 2021 by Flare.

What You Can Find

Essentially, it has all the traditional categories, such as drugs, fraud, forgeries, digital items. However, some goods and services among the almost 70 000 offerings might become a pleasant surprise for customers with a particular taste. For instance, here you can find surveillance, forensics, and vendors’ equipment, tutorials, custom drugs, various types of software, and many more.

• Drugs: Cannabis, Ecstasy, Benzodiazepines, Opioids, Prescription, Stimulants, Steroids, Drug Precursors, Custom Orders;
• Tobacco;
• Carding: Cards and CVV, Bank Logins, Dump, SSN, etc.;
• Civil Software packages: Application & System Software, Operating Systems, Drivers, Utilities, Security Software.
• Network Services: Hosting, Servers, VPN, SOCKS;
• Database: Phone, Email, or Messenger Databases, Hacked Sites & Social Network Databases, Logs;
• Surveillance: Cameras, GPS Trackers, Drones, Wireless Trackers; Voice Spy Recorders;
• Digital Forensics: Anti-Forensics Software, Computer Forensics Tools, Forensics-Focused Operating Systems;
• Vendors Equipment;
• Forgery: Art, Fake Documents, Counterfeit Products, etc.
• Private Security: Guards, Technologies, Alarms;
• Money Laundering (cryptocurrencies-related);
• Gold & Currency;
• Digital: Personal Accounts, E-books, Porn;
• Tutorials on manufacturing drugs or credit cards, mining, hacking, etc.
• Confidential Info;
• Electronics: Mobiles, Tablets, Smartwatches, Cameras, etc.

If your search for something you desire ended up to being vain, you can turn to the Buyer Request system for help. This function presents Premium customers with a world map to generate Request Listings for sellers to bid. If you succeed in finding the proposal that suits your needs, feel free to order.

What You Cannot Find

Being an e-commerce platform doesn’t necessarily mean pursuing a certain agenda. However, during the recent evolution of society’s moral standards, many darknet trading websites decided to incorporate a so-called harm reduction policy with emphasized empathy towards not only their users but other people as well. These progressive ideas clearly strike a chord with the Dark0de admins, so offering these products/services on the market is strictly forbidden:

1. Child Pornography;
2. Fentanyl, including fentanyl-related products;
3. Goods and services aim at promoting terrorism or committing terrorist attacks.

Order & Payment Processes

Being a champion in terms of product range might have its downside. It’s so easy for customers to get lost in this plethora of almost 70 000 items. Luckily, Dark0de’s design thinking principles incorporate a multitude of user-friendly capabilities. So, what functions exactly can a buyer apply to find the desired product/service?

1. Go to the specific category/subcategory;
2. Browse most viewed and featured listings;
3. Use the search bar and filter the displayed results by price, country, “dead drop” location, or listing type.

If something catches your eye, don’t rush to buy it right away, study the available information first. Start with the product’s page and then investigate the seller’s profile to confirm that all the descriptions, policies, and provisions align with your requirements.

Details you can (and even should) obtain from the product’s page:

1. Title and description (make sure to read it carefully to avoid getting misled);
2. Rating (it can vary from zero to five stars);
3. Price (it’s displayed in a fiat currency by default, so, you’ll have to make some calculations to determine the exact amount of cryptocurrency that you need);
4. Quantity in stock;
5. Whether you can purchase it via a FE option.

Data that you need to pay attention to in the vendor’s profile:

1. Shipping options (make sure that the package can be delivered to your location or the seller has a dead drop solution if you search for this option specifically);
2. Accepted cryptocurrencies (the platform allows paying with Bitcoin and Monero, but it doesn’t mean that every shop will be willing to deal with both);
3. Payment methods (traditional Escrow, Escrow with Multisig, or FE);
4. Refund/Return policies;
5. Rating (0 to 5 stars), Level (1/2/3), and Reviews;
6. When the seller was last spotted online;
7. PGP key that you should use to encrypt messages in case you have to engage in a conversation with this trader;
8. It seems obvious, but if a vendor has the “under investigation” mark, don’t buy from this shop.

Placing an Order

As soon as you find the listing that checks all the boxes, you can initiate the order placement process. Overall, the scheme is similar to any clearnet’s e-commerce site, but it has a few extra steps that you should take into account:

1. All the payments are made in cryptocurrency. Hence, be prepared to send funds to your account in advance. Go to your wallet (Bitcoin or Monero, depending on the cryptocurrency you want to use), there you can find the wallet address that you should transfer your money to. Remember that this link is unique, and it will be different for every single transaction.
2. You’ll need a Bitcoin Public Key for multisig payments. Go to your e-wallet (e.g., Electrum), find xpub key, copy it, and insert it into the special field in your profile Settings (right after 2-FA).
3. Try to precisely calculate the exchange rate and commission beforehand, so you could send the exact amount of money you have to pay for the selected items. This will significantly reduce the damage in case of an exit scam.
4. Use coin exchange, Coin Shifter (Shiftk0de), or coin mixer, The Dark0de Mixer (Mixk0de), to manage your finances and make your transactions less traceable. The market charges 5% and 3% commission for the solutions correspondingly.
5. Paying for your order with a gift card is also a viable option.
6. When your balance has changed (the average time for funds to arrive is in 15-30 minutes), you’re ready to make a purchase.
7. Open the product’s page.
8. Fill in the quantity that you wish to order.
9. Choose the preferable shipping option.
10. Select the cryptocurrency with which you intend to pay.
11. Tap on the “Order this product” button to be transferred to the checkout, or press “Add to cart” in case you want to continue shopping.
12. If you’re ready to proceed with the checkout, enter your shipping info. Don’t forget that it doesn’t have to be your home address, just the place where it is convenient for you to pick up the package. You don’t have to encrypt anything because both address and shipping details should be encrypted by the website servers.
13. Wait for the seller to accept and ship your order. If the seller provides you with the tracking info, try to track the package as rarely as possible and always protect your identity with VPN and other security features.
14. If everything matches your expectations, finalize the order as soon as you receive the package and check its content.
15. Leave feedback if you want to share your experience, but don’t forget that vendors can also review buyers’ behavior.

Escrow

Basically, the payment process can be handled through Escrow or FE systems. The first one is more secure and therefore more common. This option means that you initially transfer the money to the market, and the seller gets the reward only after the order is complete. However, the funds can be released from the escrow automatically after 14 days, if no disputes are opened.

Escrow with Multisig is also available on the Dark0de’s site. Still, not many vendors choose to offer it. Multisignature payment means that the money cannot be transferred unless 2 out of 3 parties involved (market, vendor, and buyer) sign the transaction. This scheme insurmountably boosts your chances to get a refund in case something goes wrong with the purchase.

Unfortunately, Monero doesn’t have a suitable multisig solution, so this type of transaction can be conducted only with Bitcoins. Yet, Dark0de plans to expand the list of acceptable cryptocurrencies and permit the usage of Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), Ripple (XRP), Bitcoin Cash (BCH), and some others. Thus, the situation might improve in the near future.

Finalize Early

This option makes the acquisition process easier and risky at the same time. In this scenario, your money is transferred to the vendor as soon as the order is marked as shipped. This means that after this moment, the deal is finalized, and you won’t be able to get your money if any problems arise.

Of course, only trusted vendors are eligible for FE status (a user must have 250 successful sales, a rating of 4.90 or above, and no current disputes, or submit evidence that he/she is deserving of this privilege). But you should be aware that the market staff won’t help you find a settlement in case of conflict because you cannot open a dispute regarding the FE orders. So, be careful and choose this option only if you know a vendor well enough to trust him or her with your money.

Customer Support

Dark0de market considers its mission to rely on consumer empathy when it comes to market-customer relations. But it expects the same level of understanding from a user in return. Therefore, respect people’s time and contact support only after you’ve read the FAQ section thoroughly.

Still, Darkn0te’s support staff is reachable 24/7 to assist both buyers and sellers with complicated questions or suspicious situations (scamming or fraud activity). You should get a response within less than 24 hours. It is also acceptable to write in your native language, the team will try their best to answer you.

Conclusion

Overall, the Dark0de market has everything to provide its users with a smooth experience. It is absolutely unbeatable when it comes to the selection of products and services. It has a well-versed design incorporating both innovative and known functionalities combined. The platform is open to new ideas and looks forward to ceasing more opportunities.

Dark0de market might need to upgrade its security level, but that statement is true to almost any darknet marketplace. Naturally, platforms like this embody the very freedoms and rights of society. Still, if you choose to follow this path, you should be cautious and opt for reliable websites, like this one.