Black Markets Debate

Discussions center on the feasibility, existence, and implications of black markets for illegal goods and services, frequently referencing Silk Road, darknet markets, and their use of cryptocurrencies despite legal alternatives.

📉 Falling 0.4x Finance & Crypto
2,843
Comments
20
Years Active
5
Top Authors
#3360
Topic ID

Activity Over Time

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Keywords

US HN webserverdisk.info CIA index.php Services.html gwern.net wikipedia.org black market black market markets road illegal drugs banned dark legal

Sample Comments

defen Jan 12, 2010 View on HN

Indeed, except you're talking about a black market with rather severe penalties for those caught participating. Otherwise, you can be sure that what you describe would happen.

betwixthewires Nov 19, 2021 View on HN

If you don't consider black markets a feasible use case you're cherrypicking.

mipsi Feb 5, 2022 View on HN

That would imply the existence of legal "black markets".

AJRF Aug 14, 2025 View on HN

I’m sure there is a black market for something like this?

perbu Jul 4, 2025 View on HN

The black market isn't going to care about it. It isn't really exploitable.

Hnrobert42 Oct 24, 2023 View on HN

You are thinking of “black market”.

yeukhon Oct 7, 2013 View on HN

Why are we encouraging black market?

slurgfest Feb 14, 2013 View on HN

I think this highlights the black market.

eru Dec 2, 2009 View on HN

Yes. Why would you need a blackmarket, if that were not the case?

DanBC Apr 2, 2013 View on HN

There's a few people using it for illegal purchases on things like Silk Road.