Empire Market
Offline market Defunct (Exit Scam August 2020)Former Western darknet market leader shut down in 2020
2.5 Years (2018-2020)
Market Age
92%
Uptime
6/10
Trust Score
7/10
Security Rating
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
6,000+
Vendors
65,000+
Listings
1,200,000+
Users
Market Screenshot
Verified Market Links
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Primary Link
empiremktxgjovhm.onion (defunct)
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Empire Market conducted an exit scam in August 2020. Any current sites using the Empire name are scams or law enforcement operations.
Thomas Pavey and Raheim Hamilton were arrested in 2024 on charges of operating Empire Market, money laundering, and selling counterfeit currency.
Markets like Abacus, Incognito, and White House Market absorbed Empire's user base, though no direct successor exists.
Security Score
7/10
Security
Security Score
7/10
Trust Rating
6/10
Uptime
92%
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
Always verify the market's PGP key to ensure you're on the official site.
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.