Abacus Market, recognized as the largest Bitcoin-driven darknet marketplace in the Western world, has suddenly ceased operations, raising concerns of an exit scam.
Key Points:
Abacus Market has gone offline under suspicious circumstances, indicative of an exit scam.
Problems with withdrawals being reported were linked to a DDoS attack, aligning with typical exit scam behavior.
In June, U.S. authorities seized cryptocurrency connected to BidenCash, shutting down 145 darknet and web domains.
According to TRM Labs, the marketplace, along with its clearnet counterpart, has become inaccessible, fueling speculation that the operators have executed an exit scam by shutting down and disappearing with user funds.
The timing of this closure coincides with increased law enforcement pressure, especially after Abacus experienced a surge in monthly transactions following the closure of Archetyp Market, a long-standing player in the darknet space.
Admin Blames Withdrawal Issues on DDoS Attack
Reports of withdrawal difficulties emerged in late June, leading Abacus’s administrator, known as “Vito,” to attribute the challenges to a flood of new users and a distributed denial-of-service attack.
TRM Labs highlighted that such behavior is consistent with exit scam patterns identified in other darknet markets.
Despite Vito’s explanations, users hastily withdrawn their funds. Daily deposits nosedived from approximately $230,000 in June to merely $13,000 between June 28 and July 10.
Abacus specialized in the trade of illegal drugs, including stimulants and psychedelics, offering a central wallet for deposits in Bitcoin and Monero.
Following Europol’s closure of Archetyp Market on June 16, many users shifted to Abacus, which drove its sales volume to a record $6.3 million in June.
Similar spikes in growth were observed after the voluntary shutdown of ASAP Market the previous year, pushing Abacus’s share of the Bitcoin-supported Western darknet market over 70%.
TRM Labs explained, “Marketplaces that reach the top of the ecosystem often become priority targets for law enforcement.”
During its four years of operation, Abacus generated nearly $100 million in sales through Bitcoin, while estimates suggest that total transactions could reach $300-400 million when accounting for Monero activity.
Abacus Market is either fedded or exit scamming, take your choice… you would be a fool to continue using this market if it comes back up. pic.twitter.com/blw04aaZNZ
— Dark Web Informer – Cyber Threat Intelligence (@DarkWebInformer) July 1, 2025
TRM Labs posited that the administrators may have “lost motivation” or prioritized “self-preservation” over profit in light of increased scrutiny following the seizure of Archetyp.
There is also speculation suggesting that law enforcement may have quietly taken control of the marketplace, gathering evidence without making any official statements.
However, the administrator of the darknet forum Dread, which has close links to Abacus, expressed doubt about this theory, commenting that “official seizure notices have appeared months after a DNM has gone offline” in previous instances.
U.S. Takes Down 145 Darknet Domains
In June, U.S. law enforcement seized cryptocurrency linked to BidenCash, a notorious dark web marketplace accused of distributing more than 15 million stolen credit cards and personal information.
This international operation resulted in the takedown of around 145 darknet and traditional internet domains affiliated with the marketplace.
In addition, the Department of Justice recently confiscated over $24 million in cryptocurrency from a Russian national charged with developing and operating the Qakbot malware.
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