From Cointelegraph

June 18, 2025 01:19 AM:

Europol shuts down dark web marketplace Archetyp Market after years of investigative work, arresting administrator and vendors. Market used Monero for transactions, operated for 5 years with 600,000 users, 250 million euros in transactions, and 17,000 listings. Comparable to Silk Road, it facilitated drug trafficking, including fentanyl and synthetic opioids.

Blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs reports dark web markets like Archetyp are adaptive, shifting to peer-to-peer models on apps like Telegram and Signal. Despite shutdowns, new markets emerge quickly. Operators use tactics to evade law, including rapid rebranding, pseudonymous domain registration, and laundering proceeds through high-risk crypto exchanges.

Law enforcement success in shutting down darknet platforms like Archetyp, but operators remain resilient. TRM Labs emphasizes the need for continued cross-border collaboration, technical innovation, and real-time monitoring to stay ahead of evolving darknet threats. Collaboration and advanced blockchain intelligence are crucial to disrupting illicit platforms.

Read more at Cointelegraph: Archetyp Dark Web Market Shuttered, Ecosystem Adapts