Abacus Market Vanishes: Bitcoin Darknet Exit Scam or Covert Takedown?

Another darknet marketplace bites the dust—but this one leaves questions swirling. Abacus Market, a Bitcoin-fueled hub for illicit trade, suddenly went offline last night. No warnings, no withdrawal windows—just a digital ghost town where crypto once flowed.

Was it an exit scam? Operators vanishing with user funds is practically a darknet tradition—like Wall Street bonuses, just with fewer suits. Or was it a silent takedown? Law enforcement’s recent blockchain forensics wins suggest they’re getting better at playing whack-a-mole.

Either way, the episode highlights crypto’s double-edged sword: frictionless transactions cut both ways. For every DeFi innovator, there’s a darknet opportunist. And for every ‘web3 visionary,’ there’s a regulator sharpening their claws.