Why AlphaBay was Shut Down and How Markets Should Avoid LE's Spotlight in the Future

Warning, tin foil hat predictions time: I believe AlphaBay was largely shut down for three reasons, in a particular order, that other, newer markets need to pay the fuck attention to. The bay was truly a free market, the only thing banned was the trade of child porn, and for good reason, that's gotten many darknet sites raided in the past. They allowed not only the sale of ANY drug, they allowed the sale of misrepresented drugs, guns, ammunition, fake identification, passports, stolen credit card and account information. Idealistically, it's beautiful, a truly free black market, untouchable by LE for years. Everyone assumed it was created by Russian carders, hiding out in a server bunker in Siberia or some shit.

Then this story breaks, and all the investigators can talk about, in this order, is FENTANYL, GUNS, and STOLEN CC INFO. To law enforcement, a market like this, acting in very international waters, must be directly responsible for the distribution of potentially life-ending material, be it an overdose, a shooting, or the massive amount of identity theft occuring in the US's and other countries' borders. The LSD, the molly, the coke, no one gives a fuck. Sure, LE is happy that side of the market is shut down too, but it's not what gave them the warrants for arrest or the funding for the investigation. Law enforcement, at least this high up the chain, realizes people are gonna get that on the corner if they can't find it online. But those other three things? You need a specialized market linking the average Joe to someone with real connections in the underground world, a kind of relationship that would be impossible outside of a darknet market.

All these articles coming out right now might as well be telling all the devious young coders out there exactly how to stay out of their spotlight. Sure, this ruins the whole idealistic concept of a truly free market, but at a huge gain. I for one am for it, we've already seen a couple of smaller markets promise to implement change immediately to lower their risk factors. And honestly, fuck the fent dealers, that shit is KILLING people. Fuck the arms dealers for the same reason, that shit draws so much unnecessary attention to the community. And a big fuck you to the carders, ruining lives on a daily basis. It's time for a change in the community, one towards a truly benevolent open drug market. If it's not on the onions yet (DHL I'm looking at you, don't fuck this up) then it will be in a year or two tops.

Stay safe everyone. I was a long time AlphaBay user, looking for refuge after this storm. After this, I don't care which market has the best selection, give me security and a well implemented multisig system and I'll be happy.


Comments


[162 Points] None:

We should all take a moment to praise DHL for banning fent.


[41 Points] stabBarbie:

We should have a special indicator in the superlist for markets that are fent, guns and/or fraud free to let people choose a market that represents their views


[22 Points] Throughawayup:

I agree. A truly free market means nothing when the Feds get involved. Not to mention if it is truly a free market, a marketplace should be allowed to make a statement saying "we don't want these things we consider morally questionable to be on our marketplace that we are risking our lives for." This position is 100% reasonable and prudent. Why more markets don't have these values is beyond me.


[25 Points] None:

[deleted]


[12 Points] pizzafapper:

I remember there was an open decentralized market in the works a few years back? What happened to it? Did the project shut down?

Edit : Openbazaar.org

I think this was it! Wasnt it supposed to be for drugs too? Remember there was huge interest in this sub when it was announced


[9 Points] OdrakN:

Arnt people working on a decentralized marketplace, running on nodes instead of servers? Peer-to-peer. blockchain and stuff. That's the future. Nothing can bring that down.


[6 Points] None:

Every bust moves the goal posts. Others pay attention to where it went wrong, and modify their actions to prevent that. Then LE modify their tactics to find a new way in. Rinse, repeat.

The problem with markets is the tools to make it safer usually mean introducing potential attack points; decentralised means more servers that could display attack vectors, including more coders means more staff that could turn, be turned, or be informants from the get go, etc. etc.

Hell the admin of AB fucked up in pretty much the definitive way; flashing the cash (3 houses ? REALLY ? Idiot.). The next big dog will hopefully do better, with better people


[4 Points] None:

Agreed, fuck fent. Only junkies need fent anyways


[5 Points] XanaxBoss:

The FENT must NOT flow.

/u/RIP_Meth_9000


[7 Points] None:

[removed]


[6 Points] None:

I would be totally fine with a drugs-only marketplace. I think it's appropriate.

Let there be other markets for other things.


[5 Points] None:

[removed]


[3 Points] Iamtyu:

I'm all for the idea of a marketplace of some kind, the darker side of it though I could do without. Guns, Fentanyl, CC Info, all that stuff is an area of the underground I want nothing to do with. Those things end lives.


[3 Points] raveiskingcom:

+1 we need to make it a chore for LE to even justify coming after the markets.


[3 Points] darkswizzly:

That shouldnt wonder anybody. Beside the law there is some public consensus which defines much stronger way than law itself, whats considered "ok" and "not ok". Its like you can run a KKK in legal therms but you shouldnt wonder yourself if you will face some social difficulties from it. If dnms can point that social consensus on drugs out and force the law in this direction I can just appreciate that.


[3 Points] swolemedic:

I selfishly hope that there are markets that remain similar to AB. Not because I used any of their services that were shady but because it could help keep heat away from markets that don't do that. Call me selfish, because I am, but I like the idea of there being much bigger fish to fry and the less scary areas I associate with get left alone


[3 Points] Diqqsnot:

i might just step in and build this market that you so desire, i need money m8s.


[2 Points] RaPiiD38:

The problem with your line of thinking is that it becomes very difficult to draw the line, I think the distinction between black market & red market is the only line we need.

The Alphabay seizure doesn't mean LE is beating us, we had millions of listings & purchases, we should consider it a huge success, as time goes on decryption will be more & more difficult, customers will have better OPSEC, admins will be more sophisticated and they will always be playing catch up.

That doesn't mean there isn't room for a drugs-only regulated marketplace, there probably is but it's stupid to just go shit on other criminals because they're not as criminal in the eyes of dude... weed... people. LE are the ones putting us in cages, not firearms sellers.


[2 Points] None:

Wise words dude - the war on drugs has definitely been won and not by governments / LE. Facilitating the sale of weapons, fraud and fent is clearly playing with fire though - AB just had this aura of invincibility that got suddenly smashed. I wouldn't be surprised if in the future we see greater decentrilization of markets - there's enough money to be made even with more competion/specialization


[2 Points] TreyWait:

I think the reason AB got shut down is the same reason Silk Road got shut down. It was the largest market. Being as large as it was it drew attention to itself. That and being as large as it was meant there were lots of loose ends. Lots of users. Lots of vendors. And most of all, lots of money. The info we really need is how the feds were able to track down the owners of AB. Once we know that we can start trying to 'fix' the anonymous market system.


[1 Points] madisonrebel:

I agree on the Fent and Cards. The guns, I think, should be left for now. Ideologically, I feel it's better to preserve the right of the people to privately trade in firearms without constant government monitoring. I do not see criminal activity as a greater threat until someone can demonstrate evidence that actual criminal organizations are using darknet markets to purchase their stocks, because I think it's highly unlikely. At worst, it's felons buying guns and I don't agree with denying felons the Second Amendment right of self-defense. Operation Fast and Furious showed us the government is more likely to arm drug cartels.


[1 Points] kookieless:

Good post, although sadly fentanyl is always gonna be a problem in the opioids market as long as heroin is illegal and controlled by the underground. This is quite frankly a fact LE, politicians, and the Media choose to ignore, and quite frankly I don't see that changing anytime soon (as least in US). Gotta love big gummit "doing us more harm in name of protecting us". I do believe a large market cracking down on fent can atleast mitigate some of the damage.


[1 Points] throwawayk5zq47j6wd3:

Yep, just posted about this on the WSJ post. Totally agree with OP.


[1 Points] qemist:

What's wrong with fentanyl? According to wikipedia it is on the WHO's List of Essential Medicines, the most effective and safe medicines needed in a health system, it is the most widely used synthetic opioid in medicine, and it has a relatively wide therapeutic index. Any opioid will kill you if you take enough.


[1 Points] RSlashMason:

DHL LOVE


[1 Points] 1H8YU:

BA BayAlpha New market opening up safe secure 1 way valve btc escrow protection we will offer multi sig but we controll 2 of the 3 so .. Smile and pucker your cheeks you limey bastards

1H8YU-ELLMEN!!*_1h0p22


[1 Points] thatnicca21:

fuck all you idiots that hate fent. just because you're to stupid to learn how to dose proper;y doesn't mean it should be banned, otherwise then we should just ban heroin all together.

Fent and its analogs are fine as long you know what you're doing with them... to the dealers they cut dope with it. fuck you stop giving fent a bad name


[0 Points] hhayn:

No the reason why it was targeted was mainly because it openly enabled the sale of illegal drugs, increasing access to them and decreasing stigma associated with drug dealing. Just like any market that is of interest to this subreddit will do. So you're kidding yourself or completely naive to think that they're not going to go after other markets because they don't sell fent, guns, whatever. They have a vested interest in keeping drugs demonized, as it feeds the criminal-judicial industry (police, probation officers, lawyers, judges, drug identification/analysis companies, private prisons, prison commissaries, revenue for local/state/fed governments via fines and asset forfeiture, etc). It is a black market, meaning it is also untaxable/unregulated commerce, which cannot be tolerated let alone done so openly and the chagrin of the those in power (DEA, IRS, USPS). In summary, markets like these will never be left alone because they threaten several huge and influential industries, enable untaxed commercial transactions and their simple existence is a complete embarrassment to these law enforcement agencies, which erodes their perceived legitimacy, efficacy and ultimately will undermine their sanctioned authority. Alphabay just happened to be the biggest of the day and fentanyl, weapons and fraud the scapegoat du jour. Tomorrow it could be coke, LSD, counterfeit clothing and pirated software.


[0 Points] None:

You can run a network that allows any product. You just have to be smarter about your OPSEC when you are the one running the website.

Thailand is not and never has been safe. That's why internet criminals avoid it and go to places like Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica...

You want Asian girls? well then you have to distance yourself from any sort of wealth and activity.


[0 Points] MT_Merchant_Mangler:

Some idiot posted "RIP DeSnake" and a link to the WSJ journal article on FB. OPSEC Level -9000.


[-1 Points] KarlsbaderStr7:

With all due respect, a lot of the above or below(in regards to where this post lands) is merely airy fairy wishful thinking from the think tanks in Utopia. Within days of a market opening, irregardless of the operators moral stance and product/s available, shit is getting poked and prodded for unlocked doors to identify those responsible and the sites total removal.

CC security is now such a broken system it's practically irrelevant, it's that widespread there's literally countless clearnet sites that offer details for sale.

Guns are but a blip in terms of sales and damage caused to the community via dnm's. Frankly it only ever used by the media as an attention grabber and to spread more fear into the wider community.

Identity fraud like fake i.d's is much like CC info in again being easily found and available on the clear net. Those truly responsible being the apathetic state governmental department's via a lack of implementation of security features that carry some weight. Passports is one item I've never really seen to be spoken of and as such I doubt the widespread abuse and actual threat they offer. I'd gather most, if not all of the west now use RFID versions and with bio-metric passports the next in their evolutionary line I'm unsure that whilst possible are those on offer truly 1-1 counterfeits.

From fentanyl to paracetamol and everything in between either illegal or pharmaceutical they've all been directly or indirectly responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths. It's down to the end user's due diligence in being responsible when using their chemical of choice. Throwing around terms like fuck fent, fuck junkies and the like just indicates what an immature, judgmental, smug and hypocritical fucker you truly are. For every down and out user, there's a highly functioning one of each and every substance, the threat of being one or the other can be as simple as one life changing experience away. Restricting what substance can or can't be sold won't change one shit of difference when LE start prodding nor will the wider community be there singing the praises of users and marketplaces that use a totally holistic market. I am in total agreement and respect it's at admins discretion as to what's allowed and not.

With the apparent opiate 'epidemic' taking hold in the US to name but one country and being a skeptic to a lot of the shit the media spews I can't help but question if the attack on fent and linking it to the dw is nothing but a bullshit diversionary tactic and blame shifting game. Is there no link between Americas occupation of Afghanistan, the boom in poppy production and the subsequent opiate problem that's now being witnessed? Nup, nothing to see here but hey do you want some fent? Then jump on India Mart. They've been in operation far longer than any dnm and if tell me you can only purchase from the drug section by holding the relevant scientific study/ industry papers that allow such a thing then I've got a bridge for sale.

DNM's for but their very nature will forever be targeted irregardless of the selection of goods. The war is on the money, opportunities and it's relative ease of access for average you and I. It's supposed to only be available to big pharma, multinational corps and banking operations who have access to a printing press and the relative repercussions that amount to sweet fuck all in the majority of cases.


[-1 Points] Jethro23:

you guys are such pussys, the whole reason Ross created the silkroad was because he believed about a truly free marketplace. If you dont like fent, guns, or fraud then dont give those vendors any sales. But if DHL wants to banned fent which really isnt as bad of a drug as people/media make it out to be then good for them, they run a tight market anyway and only allow certain vendors in so its not a free market. Its peoples choice to use a drug, buy a gun, and purchase Credit cards then let them do it. Thats the whole point on a free market and if you dont like it then get off the DNM