Knowledge Base & FAQ

DarkMatter Market is a next-generation decentralized platform engineered from the ground up, deliberately avoiding the common script vulnerabilities found in cloned markets. We prioritize Monero (XMR) for absolute financial privacy, utilize a proprietary AI-driven dispute resolution system to accelerate case handling, and operate on a resilient, distributed server infrastructure designed to mitigate DDOS attacks and ensure 99.9% uptime.

The .onion Top Level Domain indicates a hidden service accessible only via the Tor network. Traffic is routed through three random nodes (Guard, Middle, Exit), with encryption layers peeled back at each step. This ensures that neither your ISP nor the market server can ascertain your physical location or IP address, providing a high degree of anonymity essential for free trade.

We strictly recommend using the Tor Browser on the Tails OS or Whonix operating system. Set your security slider to 'Safest' (disabling JavaScript globally). Access the market using our verified V3 onion address:

darkmmulnqwpmxaszs7l2wauxqepsl463bbqlwsxetter62m2br47mid.onion

Never use a VPN with Tor unless you are an advanced user who understands bridge configurations, as this can introduce a fixed point of failure.

Registration is permissionless and requires no personal information. Navigate to the registration page, select a unique username and a strong, alphanumeric password. You will be provided with a mnemonic seed phrase—save this securely offline, as it is the absolute only method to recover your account if credentials are lost. We strongly advise setting up PGP 2FA immediately after your first login.

Verification is mandatory for security. Import the DarkMatter official PGP public key into your keychain (GPG/Kleopatra). Copy the signed message containing the mirror list from our homepage, Dread thread, or Recon page. Verify the signature against the public key. If the signature is valid and trusted, the links are authentic. Never log in via a link that fails PGP verification.

Our dashboard provides a comprehensive suite of security tools:

• PGP 2FA: Mandatory for vendors, optional but recommended for buyers.
• Anti-Phishing Image: A unique user-generated image displayed on login to verify you are on the real site.
• Session Management: View active sessions and force-logout suspicious activity.
• Auto-Encryption: Option to encrypt all messages with your PGP key automatically if the recipient has one.

We employ a "Zero-Knowledge" architecture where possible. Sensitive data such as shipping addresses are encrypted with the vendor's PGP key immediately upon submission and are deleted from our database after the order is finalized. Wallet private keys are cold-stored. We retain no logs of IP addresses or access times.

Bitcoin (BTC) operates on a transparent ledger where every transaction is permanently visible and traceable by chain analysis firms. Monero (XMR) utilizes Ring Signatures, Ring Confidential Transactions (RingCT), and Stealth Addresses to completely obfuscate the sender, receiver, and transaction amount. To ensure the highest standard of OpSec for both vendors and buyers, we enforce a strict Monero-only policy.

Standard Escrow: Funds are held in a market-controlled multisig wallet. The vendor is not paid until the buyer marks the order as 'Received' or the auto-finalize timer expires (typically 14 days).

Finalize Early (FE): A privilege reserved for top-tier vendors with impeccable history. This allows them to access funds immediately upon marking an order as shipped. FE listings are clearly marked; buyers should proceed with caution and only use FE with trusted vendors.

Deposits are credited after 10 confirmations on the Monero blockchain (approx. 20 minutes). Each user is assigned a unique subaddress for deposits to prevent address reuse linking. Withdrawals are processed via our internal mixer to break any potential link between your market wallet and your personal wallet. Withdrawal batches run every 30 minutes.

Buyers pay 0% fees on purchases. Vendors are charged a commission fee ranging from 2% to 5% based on their vendor level and total sales volume. A small, dynamic network fee is deducted from withdrawals to cover Monero mining costs, ensuring priority processing on the blockchain.

Vendor status requires a bond payment of 500 XMR (refundable upon retirement with good standing). Applicants must demonstrate experience from other markets (Recon/Dread verified) or provide proof of product stock. We enforce a strict vetting process including PGP verification and a review of OpSec practices. Visit the 'Vendor Application' tab in your profile to begin.

If an order is not received or is deficient, the buyer can open a dispute. Our system first uses AI to analyze vendor reliability scores and shipping data for a preliminary recommendation. If unresolved, a human moderator reviews the case. Users must provide valid proof (e.g., lack of tracking updates, photos of package) within the dispute window. Decisions made by moderators are binding.

We maintain a zero-tolerance policy for harm-reduction. Prohibited items include: Fentanyl and its analogues, weaponry/explosives, poisons, CP, human trafficking, and murder-for-hire services. Listings violating these terms are removed immediately, and the vendor account is permanently banned and blacklisted across our partner network.

Tor network congestion or targeted DDOS attacks can occasionally cause connection timeouts. If the main link is down, attempt to connect via one of our rotational mirrors listed on the Links page. Always verify new mirrors with PGP. You may also try refreshing your Tor circuit (New Identity) or restarting the Tor process.

Support is available via the internal ticket system for logged-in users. For account lockouts or recovery issues, refer to the contact details on our Contact page. All external communication regarding account specifics MUST be encrypted with the support PGP key to ensure privacy. Unencrypted messages containing sensitive info will be ignored.