Decentral, unbreakable and anonymous? Literature Review of resiliency mechanisms in darknet markets
Bjoern Christian Wolf · 2016
This article identifies socio-technical mechanisms of darknet markets that render them resilient to law enforcement based on relevant literature. In depth, it analyses the interplay between user or community behaviour and cryptographic technology. The four main activities of darknet markets that are necessary for successful coordination are identified as: (1) transaction and communication, (2) trust and reputation, (3) payment and (4) logistics, each addressed through a combination of ICTs and community norms. The marketplaces act as intermediaries facilitating an anonymous, decentralised market by joining these four areas and offering a resilient solution.