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AlphaBay was a darknet marketplace that operated intermittently from September 2014 until February 2023. It functioned as both an onion service on the Tor network and an I2P node on the I2P network. Following a law enforcement crackdown in July 2017, which involved agencies from the United States, Canada, and Thailand as part of Operation Bayonet, AlphaBay was shut down. However, it was relaunched in August 2021 by DeSnake, who identified himself as a co-founder and security administrator. The alleged original founder, Alexandre Cazes, a Canadian citizen born on October 19, 1991, was found dead in his prison cell in Thailand shortly after his arrest, with authorities suspecting suicide. AlphaBay reportedly launched in September 2014, with a pre-launch in November 2014 and an official launch on December 22, 2014. The marketplace experienced rapid growth, attracting 14,000 new users within its first 90 days of operation. By October 2015, it was recognized as the largest online darknet market, according to Dan Palumbo, research director at Digital Citizens Alliance. The platform offered unique services, including customizable digital contracts that helped users build their reputations. In May 2015, AlphaBay introduced an integrated digital contracts and escrow system, allowing users to engage in agreements for future services based on the terms outlined in the contracts. By October 2015, AlphaBay had amassed over 200,000 users and claimed to have around 40,000 sellers. At the time of its closure in July 2017, the marketplace boasted over 400,000 users and approximately 300,000 listed items. In addition to Bitcoin, AlphaBay began supporting Monero in August 2016 and also accepted Ethereum.
AlphaBay was a darknet marketplace that operated intermittently from September 2014 until February 2023. It functioned as both an onion service on the Tor network and an I2P node on the I2P network. Following a law enforcement crackdown in July 2017, which involved agencies from the United States, Canada, and Thailand as part of Operation Bayonet, AlphaBay was shut down. However, it was relaunched in August 2021 by DeSnake, who identified himself as a co-founder and security administrator. The alleged original founder, Alexandre Cazes, a Canadian citizen born on October 19, 1991, was found dea...