Sources & Methodology

Transparency in research and information gathering

Understanding how we compile and verify information

Information Sources

This website compiles information from publicly available sources. We do not conduct primary research on darknet marketplaces or access any illegal platforms.

Primary Sources

Law Enforcement Announcements - Official press releases from Europol, DOJ, FBI, and other agencies
Court Documents - Publicly available legal filings and judgments
Academic Research - Peer-reviewed papers on darknet marketplace ecosystems

Secondary Sources

Cybersecurity Research Firms - Chainalysis, TRM Labs, Elliptic
Technology Journalism - BleepingComputer, KrebsOnSecurity, Wired
News Agencies - Reuters, Associated Press, BBC

Editorial Policy

Our editorial approach follows these principles:

No Access Facilitation - We never provide links, mirrors, or access instructions
Source Attribution - All claims are attributed to public sources where possible
Uncertainty Acknowledgment - We clearly indicate when information cannot be verified
Safety Focus - Content emphasizes risks and safety rather than operational details

Verification Process

Information published on this site undergoes the following verification:

Cross-reference with multiple independent sources
Prioritize official announcements over forum claims
Clearly label unverified or disputed information
Update content when new information becomes available

Limitations

We acknowledge significant limitations in darknet marketplace research:

Operational status cannot be independently verified
Forum discussions may contain deliberate misinformation
Timing of events may be imprecise
Some claims cannot be confirmed or denied