Monero adoption rises sharply across darknet marketplaces
Monero is increasingly becoming the preferred cryptocurrency across darknet marketplaces, according to a 2025 report by TRM Labs. The blockchain analytics firm said nearly half of illicit marketplaces launched this year operate exclusively using Monero, signaling a structural shift in payment preferences within underground economies.The findings indicate that privacy-focused digital assets are gaining traction as operators seek stronger transaction obfuscation and resistance to blockchain tracing tools. The trend marks a departure from earlier years when bitcoin remained the dominant payment method across most darknet platforms.
Delistings and privacy concerns fuel demand
Analysts attribute growing Monero usage in part to widespread delistings of privacy coins from centralized exchanges. Regulatory scrutiny and compliance requirements have led several trading venues to remove Monero from listings, limiting its accessibility through mainstream channels but potentially reinforcing its appeal in privacy-sensitive environments.TRM Labs noted that marketplace operators increasingly cite transaction confidentiality as a core requirement, particularly as blockchain monitoring tools have become more sophisticated. Monero’s design, which conceals sender, receiver, and transaction amounts by default, offers a different privacy model compared to transparent blockchains.
Debate over regulatory pressure
The rising prominence of Monero in darknet commerce has prompted debate about potential regulatory responses. Some observers suggest that heightened usage within illicit contexts could increase pressure on developers or infrastructure providers associated with privacy-centric cryptocurrencies.Developers linked to the Monero project have consistently maintained that the protocol’s objective is to protect financial privacy and enable censorship-resistant transactions. They argue that privacy technologies themselves are neutral and can serve lawful use cases, including protection from financial surveillance.
Market performance and broader context
Despite a price pullback from recent highs, Monero has risen approximately 51% over the past year, outperforming both bitcoin and Ethereum over the same period. The performance suggests sustained demand, even as broader crypto markets have experienced volatility.The shift toward Monero reflects evolving dynamics in both regulation and blockchain analytics capabilities. As enforcement techniques advance, illicit market operators appear to be adapting their infrastructure accordingly, reinforcing Monero’s role as a central payment layer in segments of the darknet economy.
Whether the current trajectory results in increased regulatory scrutiny or further technological adaptation remains uncertain, but the data indicate that privacy-focused assets are playing a more prominent role in underground digital markets in 2025.
Editorial Team - CoinBotLab
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