Russian Darknet Markets Dominate Bitcoin and TRON Drug Sales, TRM Labs Says

Despite the many challenges faced by darknet marketplaces over the course of 2024, these platforms have nevertheless seen a slight increase of income compared to 2023

In 2024, darknet marketplaces saw a slight revenue bump, bringing in over $1.7 billion, while Russian-language platforms continued to dominate Bitcoin and TRON drug sales, analysts at blockchain forensic firm TRM Labs said.

In their latest 2025 Crypto Crime Report, the analysts pointed out that Russian-language marketplaces have been the main drivers of illicit drug sales,ิดีโคนาว accounting for over 97% of overall revenue in Bitcoin (BTC) and TRON (TRX).

“Despite the many challenges faced by darknet marketplaces over the course of 2024, these platforms have nevertheless seen a slight increase of income compared to 2023, generating more than $1.7 billion.”, TRM Labs said.

Relative safety from law enforcement in Russia has allowed these marketplaces to flourish, the analysts say, adding that some platforms continue to use dead drop-based delivery models and rely on cheap precursor chemicals from China.

“ focus on synthetic drugs, and the wide availability and low price of drug precursor chemicals typically imported from China — have enabled Russian-language darknet marketplaces to thrive.”, TRM Labs added.

On the other hand, Western darknet markets had a rough year in 2024. Several exit scams and law enforcement crackdowns saw trust in these platforms wane, especially after the Incognito Market exit scam in March.

In contrast, Russian-language markets remained stable, with only four platforms closing down. Analysts note that these platforms shirk away from exit scams, opting instead to shut down voluntarily, allowing users to withdraw their cryptocurrency.