What in the World The takedown of one of the world’s largest online drug markets
Jul 30, 2025
Joe Tidy, BBC's cyber correspondent, delves into the dramatic takedown of Archetyp Market, a notorious dark web drug hub with over 600,000 users. He explains how law enforcement navigated the complexities of cryptocurrency to execute their extensive crackdown. Tidy sheds light on the unique behaviors of online drug users, the rising challenges following the market's closure, and the ongoing struggle between illicit platforms and law enforcement. The resilience of dark web communities continues to evolve, complicating future efforts.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Archetyp's Massive Dark Web Reach
- Archetyp Market was a huge dark web drug marketplace with 17,000 drug listings and 600,000 users worldwide.
- It offered a broad selection of illegal drugs such as cocaine, MDMA, and amphetamines.
How the Dark Web Functions
- The dark web requires exact addresses and no search engines, making it slow and tricky to browse.
- Its URLs are random strings of characters and it operates like a hidden internet parallel.
Monero Enhances Payment Privacy
- Archetyp used Monero cryptocurrency for payments, which is much more private than Bitcoin.
- Bitcoin transactions are public and traceable, while Monero obscures users' transaction histories and amounts.