torstats

The darknet is a specialized segment of the internet that people typically access using tools designed for privacy. While it’s often seen as a hotspot for illegal activities, it also supports legitimate uses focused on privacy. However, most statistics about the darknet are estimates based on things like law enforcement actions, vendor claims, and academic studies.

Measuring the size and growth of the darknet is tricky since it isn’t listed in the same way as the surface web. Different market-tracking groups have reported that there are hundreds of active sellers on major darknet platforms at different times. However, these marketplaces come and go as sites get shut down and new ones appear. Over the last ten years, crackdowns have led to temporary drops in the number of active listings, but soon after, we see new marketplaces and vendor networks springing up.