Bitcoin Darknet Giant Abacus Vanishes – Was It a Massive Exit Scam?

Key Points

1. Abacus Market, once the largest Bitcoin-enabled Western darknet marketplace, went offline in early July 2025, taking down its clearnet mirror and related infrastructure.

2. The platform handled nearly $100 million in Bitcoin-based sales but faced user complaints about stalled withdrawals, a common precursor to exit scams.

3. Abacus grew rapidly after the closures of other major darknet markets, reaching over 70% market share by 2024, with monthly sales spiking to $6.3 million after Archetyp Market's closure in June 2025.

4. TRM Labs suggested Abacus's sudden disappearance was likely an exit scam, though law enforcement involvement remains unclear.

5. Russian-language darknet markets have adapted quickly, capturing over 97% of global darknet drug revenues by 2024 following Hydra Market's 2022 closure.