Empire Market
Offline marketFormer Western darknet market leader shut down in 2020
About Empire Market
Empire Market emerged in February 2018 as one of the largest Western darknet markets after the fall of AlphaBay and Hansa, processing over $430 million in illegal transactions before its abrupt shutdown. Operating on Tor (empiremktxgjovhm.onion), Empire gained popularity for its reliable escrow system, Bitcoin and Monero support, and extensive product listings including drugs, stolen data, and counterfeit items. The market suddenly disappeared in August 2020 in an exit scam, with owners Thomas Pavey ('Dopenugget') and Raheim Hamilton ('Sydney') later indicted in 2024. Law enforcement seized $75 million in cryptocurrency during investigations, though much of the exit scam funds remain unrecovered. As of 2025, any claims of Empire Market still operating are scams or law enforcement honeypots.
Bitcoin
Monero
Market Screenshot
Screenshot verified: 2020-07-22
Verified Market Links
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Primary Link
empiremktxgjovhm.onion (defunct)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Empire Market still active in 2025?
What happened to Empire Market's owners?
What replaced Empire Market after shutdown?
Security Score
Key Features
- Bitcoin & Monero support
- Escrow protection system
- Advanced search filters
- Vendor tier system
- Dispute resolution
- Multi-sig transactions (optional)
Security Features
- Tor hidden service (.onion)
- Optional PGP encryption
- Escrow protection
- Vendor verification tiers
- DDoS protection (until exit)
Market PGP Key
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Disclaimer
This information is provided for educational purposes only. We do not endorse or encourage any illegal activities. Always follow the laws in your jurisdiction. Use extreme caution when visiting any darknet market and never share personal information.