The European Cybercrime Centre has shut down one of the longest-running dark web markets, Archetyp Market, but blockchain intelligence company TRM Labs points out that such markets are highly adaptable to shutdown operations.
The European Cybercrime Centre announced on Monday that they had closed the main infrastructure of Archetyp Market in the Netherlands through a series of raids involving six countries.
The raid targeted key personnel and technical infrastructure of Archetyp, with the alleged administrator (a German citizen) arrested in Spain. The European Cybercrime Centre stated that they also arrested a moderator and six of the site's largest sellers in Germany and Sweden.
These dark web-based markets rely on cryptocurrency for transactions, and Archetyp used the privacy-focused Monero (XMR) for its trading activities.
The market had been operating for five years, and the European Cybercrime Centre stated that they spent "years of intensive investigation," including tracking the flow of funds, to close the site and its alleged operators.
Despite increasing law enforcement efforts, blockchain intelligence company TRM Labs reported on Monday that even when dark web platforms fall, "the ecosystem remains highly adaptable," with illegal sellers turning to applications like Telegram and Signal to set up shop.
TRM Labs stated, "These peer-to-peer models offer faster turnaround times, lower fees, and a reduced risk of platform shutdowns, making law enforcement efforts more complex."
TRM Labs noted that after the closure of the Russian Hydra market in 2022, a new Russian market almost immediately emerged to replace it.
"While some dark web operators, particularly those in Western dark web markets, have historically attempted to rebrand or exit scams after law enforcement actions, comprehensive rebuilding seems to be becoming less common," the company added.
The European Cybercrime Centre stated that Archetyp had a user base of over 600,000, with a total transaction volume of at least 250 million euros (287 million dollars) and over 17,000 product listings, most of which were aimed at illegal drug sales, including cocaine, ecstasy, and amphetamines.
It is also one of the few dark web markets that allowed the sale of fentanyl and synthetic opioids.
The European Cybercrime Centre pointed out, "The platform's persistence, scale, and reputation in the criminal community place it alongside now-defunct dark web markets like Dream Market and Silk Road, both of which were notorious for their roles in facilitating online drug trafficking."
TRM Labs noted that law enforcement agencies are achieving significant results in combating dark web platforms, but these platform operators are employing various strategies to evade legal regulation, including anonymous domain registration, rapid rebranding after being shut down, and transferring illegal funds through high-risk cryptocurrency exchanges.
"The successful closure of Archetyp Market sends a clear signal that, supported by advanced blockchain intelligence technology, law enforcement agencies have the capability to dismantle even the most entrenched illegal platforms," TRM Labs emphasized in the report.
"However, the resilience and continuously evolving nature of these networks highlight the need for ongoing enhancement of cross-border cooperation, technological innovation, and real-time monitoring to stay ahead in addressing the next generation of dark web threats."
Related: Spokane, Washington's second-largest city bans cryptocurrency ATMs
Original: “TRM Labs: Archetyp Dark Web Market Shut Down, but Ecosystem is Highly Adaptable”
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