Bitcoin darknet marketplace vanishes after $6.3M sales – Exit scam alert?

Key Points

1. Abacus Market vanished suddenly, sparking suspicions of an exit scam after recording $6.3 million in sales and holding over 70% market share.

2. User deposits dropped sharply from $230,000 daily in mid-June to $13,000 by July 10, indicating eroding trust.

3. The marketplace's rise followed the takedown of Archetyp Market in June, leading to a migration of users to Abacus.

4. TRM Labs noted that darknet users tend to shift to the next 'reputable' marketplace after shutdowns, as seen with ASAP Market and Incognito Market.

5. Abacus may have processed $300-$400 million in Bitcoin and Monero sales over four years, with admins possibly exiting to avoid law enforcement scrutiny.