Europol’s Deputy Executive Director of Operations, Jean-Philippe Lecouffe, called the takedown a decisive strike against a platform that had become a critical node in the global supply chain for some of the world’s most dangerous substances. The marketplace had more than 600,000 users with a total transaction volume of at least €250 million ($289 million). €7.8 million ($9 million) was seized from Archetyp’s biggest vendor alone.
‘Cutting Off A Major Supply Line’
These closures bind users together and foster a shared resilience and collective experience in navigating these environments. Despite the fact Archetyp had clearly raised the bar on security on the dark web, Operation Deep Sentinel – a collaborative effort between law enforcement agencies in six countries supported by Europol and Eurojust – took down the market. The durability of these markets tells us that if policing responses keep following the same playbook, they will keep getting the same results. And by focusing so heavily on these hidden platforms, authorities are neglecting the growing digital harms in the spaces we all use.
Today (June 16, 2025), Europol announced the successful dismantling of Archetyp Market, the longest-running darknet drug marketplace, following a sweeping international operation coordinated across six countries. Approximately 300 officers were deployed to secure digital evidence, seize assets, and arrest key suspects. The takedown was led by German authorities, with Europol and Eurojust facilitating intelligence sharing, operational coordination, and legal cooperation across borders. In a decisive international crackdown, law enforcement agencies from six countries have dismantled Archetyp Market — a notorious darknet drug marketplace that operated under the radar for over five years. The digital drug bazaar had evolved into one of the dark web’s most prominent hubs, boasting over 612,000 users and generating more than €250 million (nearly \$289 million) in illegal cryptocurrency transactions.
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He was arrested in his apartment in Barcelona by the Spanish National Police. In parallel, German and European authorities searched 20 other properties – including residential houses, server rooms, and hideouts of accomplices. The platform’s estimated turnover of €250 million was processed exclusively through Monero (XMR) cryptocurrency, chosen for its enhanced privacy features that obscure transaction trails through ring signatures and stealth addresses.
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The takedown required enormous global coordination, and the investigation was headed by German authorities. Successful operation depended on concurrent action in multiple countries in order to prevent the criminal network from escaping or destroying evidence. Launched in 2020, Archetyp was Europe’s longest-serving drug market at the time of its takedown last week, and authorities today confirmed a number of key arrests. Accessing Archetyp Market involves several key steps to ensure both security and privacy. Users must first install the Tor browser, which is available for multiple operating systems including iOS, Mac, Windows, and Android. This browser allows users to reach Archetyp through its onion address, a unique URL that is only accessible within the Tor network.
The success of this mission draws heavily on data harvested from the takedowns of prior darknet markets. By preserving and cross-referencing seized data — such as user account details, blockchain forensics, and communications — law enforcement can map wider networks and plan future stings with precision. Every deal runs on Monero, a privacy-focused cryptocurrency that wipes out any chance of tracking—unlike Bitcoin, which can spill your secrets if someone digs deep enough. Whether you’re a newcomer dipping your toes into the dark web or a veteran of hidden services, our platform’s built to be your go-to spot. With over 15,000 listings, we’ve got a catalog that spans continents—vendors from the US, Europe, Asia, and beyond bring their wares to a community that’s all about staying under the radar.
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What Was The Archetyp Market?
One Archetyp Market moderator and six of the marketplace’s highest vendors were also arrested in Germany and Sweden. In some cases, established sellers on closed-down markets are welcomed onto new markets as digital “refugees” and have joining fees waived. Compared to its predecessors, Archetyp enforced enhanced security expectations from its users. These included an advanced encryption program known as “Pretty Good Privacy” and a cryptocurrency called Monero. Unlike Bitcoin, which records every payment on a public ledger, Monero conceals all transaction details by default, which makes them nearly impossible to trace. However, despite its initial success, Archetyp Market was eventually overwhelmed by the growing strength and resources of Bazaar, which eventually led to its shutdown.
An Archetypal Drug Market
Archetyp is more than a marketplace — it’s a private enclave where trust is earned and wisdom is shared. Within our encrypted forum, users discuss harm reduction, product reviews, operational security, and the future of darknet infrastructure. Silk Road, AlphaBay, WallStreet and Monopoly Market are all familiar names in the digital graveyard of the dark web. Before these dark web marketplaces were shut down, they sold a range of illegal products, from drugs to firearms.
- The success of the operation demonstrates the importance of international cooperation in the battle against recent cybercrime and drug smuggling.
- Authorities tracked financial transactions, analyzed forensic evidence and worked closely with international counterparts to uncover the individuals behind the marketplace.
- Many such marketplaces also host services that target everyday internet users, including malware-for-hire, stolen credentials, spyware kits, and identity data dumps.
- According to TRM Labs, cryptocurrency-enabled online drug sales grew by more than 19% from 2023 to 2024, reaching nearly USD 2.4 billion in total volume.
In total, 20 additional properties were searched, and seven individuals were arrested in Sweden. Across all suspects, law enforcement confiscated 47 smartphones, 45 computers and notebooks, various narcotics, and additional assets. Europol said the action was the result of “years of intensive investigative work”, during which detectives mapped out the platform’s technical architecture and identified the individuals behind it. They were following the money trail, and analyzed digital forensic evidence, allowing them to determine key players and important locations. The raid on Genesis followed a similar US-led enforcement actions in 2023 against other darknet hacker market places, including Hydra Market and Breach Forums.
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Vendors migrated to unstable alternatives such as Incognito and Bohemia, but none of these managed to consolidate trust or operational continuity. The other emerging issue is that current policing efforts treat dark web markets as the core threat, which might miss the wider landscape of digital harms. Illicit drug sales, for example, are promoted on social media, where platform features such as recommendation systems are affording new means of illicit drug supply.
This multi-pronged strategy creates both psychological and logistical disruptions in darknet supply chains. One key moderator and six top vendors — some responsible for thousands of drug shipments — were arrested in Germany and Sweden. In total, the operation led to the seizure of 47 smartphones, 45 computers, large quantities of drugs, and assets worth €7.8 million. The most publicized arrest was in Spain’s Barcelona, where police arrested the 30-year-old German administrator of the marketplace the mastermind of the entire operation. In the meantime, the technical infrastructure of the platform, which was hosted in the Netherlands, was completely dismantled and confiscated.
