Crimenetwork Crumbles: German Authorities Bust Largest Dark Web Marketplace

In Germany, the administrator of the largest criminal platform, Crimenetwork, has been apprehended. During the search, authorities seized evidence, luxury vehicles, and cryptocurrency assets valued at approximately €1 million. The platform’s servers have been taken offline.

Operating since 2012, Crimenetwork was regarded as the leading marketplace for the shadow economy in the German-speaking segment of the internet. The platform facilitated the sale of stolen data, narcotics, forged documents, and various other illicit goods and services. At the time of its closure, the platform boasted over 100,000 registered users and more than 100 vendors, with the primary audience hailing from German-speaking countries.

The administrator, a 29-year-old man, was responsible for the platform’s technical support and development. He now faces charges of operating a criminal platform and engaging in large-scale drug trafficking. The suspect has been placed in custody.

Payments on Crimenetwork were conducted via Bitcoin and Monero. Between 2018 and 2024, the total volume of transactions exceeded 1,000 BTC (approximately €90 million) and 20,000 XMR (around €3 million). The platform’s revenue was derived from transaction fees ranging from 1% to 5%, as well as monthly payments from vendors for advertising and licenses.

The investigation spanned several years and was conducted with the support of international law enforcement agencies, including prosecutors and police from the Netherlands. Authorities have amassed extensive data on users and transactions, which will aid in identifying the organizers and participants in the criminal network.