Dark Market Evolution Vanishes With $12 Million in Bitcoin

AccessTimeIconMar 18, 2015 at 1:27 p.m. UTC
Updated Sep 11, 2021 at 11:36 a.m. UTC
10 Years of Decentralizing the Future
May 29-31, 2024 - Austin, TexasThe biggest and most established global hub for everything crypto, blockchain and Web3.Register Now

Notorious dark web marketplace Evolution has vanished amid reports that its administrators have absconded with more than $12m in bitcoin.

Accessible only via the Tor network, the market had become the go-to online drug bazaar following the shut down of Silk Road and Operation Onymous, a pan-agency crackdown on illicit markets that seized over 400 domains in November.

Members of the darkweb community expressed concerns about Evolution's moderators – operating under the handles 'Kimble' and 'Verto' – who were delayed responding to and processing withdrawal requests.

Reddit's Evolution discussion page was also awash with claims that the site's administrators had blamed the delays on a backlog of withdrawals, reassuring worried vendors that the issue would be resolved within 24 hours.

However, the Evolution marketplace and its user discussion forum went offline shortly after, indicating the possibility that the administrators had taken the money and dissapeared.

Reddit user NSWGreat, who previously claimed to handle the site's public relations, said: "Evolution can officially be put on the Wall of Shame. Verto and Kimble have [expletive] us all."

Disclosure

Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information has been updated.

CoinDesk is an award-winning media outlet that covers the cryptocurrency industry. Its journalists abide by a strict set of editorial policies. In November 2023, CoinDesk was acquired by the Bullish group, owner of Bullish, a regulated, digital assets exchange. The Bullish group is majority-owned by Block.one; both companies have interests in a variety of blockchain and digital asset businesses and significant holdings of digital assets, including bitcoin. CoinDesk operates as an independent subsidiary with an editorial committee to protect journalistic independence. CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive options in the Bullish group as part of their compensation.


Learn more about Consensus 2024, CoinDesk's longest-running and most influential event that brings together all sides of crypto, blockchain and Web3. Head to consensus.coindesk.com to register and buy your pass now.