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German authorities have shut down the country's largest cybercriminal marketplace Crimenetwork. The site's administrator has been arrested on charges of facilitating the distribution of drugs, stolen data, and illegal services.
According to the German Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), Crimenetwork had been operating since 2012 and was the largest German-language marketplace for stolen data, drugs, and document forgery services.
At the time of the site's closure and the disconnection of the North, Crimenetwork had more than 100 registered sellers and over 100,000 users, most of whom were in German-speaking countries.
Marketplace users could pay for goods and services using Bitcoin or Monero (XMR). According to the investigation, between 2018 and 2024 alone, the marketplace's transaction volume exceeded 1,000 bitcoins and 20,000 Monero, which exceeds $100,000,000 at the current exchange rate.
Crimenetwork operators received 1-5% of all transactions, as well as charged a monthly subscription fee from sellers and received advertising revenue. As a result, law enforcement officials believe that since 2018, the site's administration has earned at least $5,000,000.
In addition to the arrest of the alleged Crimenetwork administrator, known by the nickname Techmin, the BKA claims to have received information about registered participants of the platform, and reports that more arrests can be expected in the future.
According to the German Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), Crimenetwork had been operating since 2012 and was the largest German-language marketplace for stolen data, drugs, and document forgery services.
At the time of the site's closure and the disconnection of the North, Crimenetwork had more than 100 registered sellers and over 100,000 users, most of whom were in German-speaking countries.
Marketplace users could pay for goods and services using Bitcoin or Monero (XMR). According to the investigation, between 2018 and 2024 alone, the marketplace's transaction volume exceeded 1,000 bitcoins and 20,000 Monero, which exceeds $100,000,000 at the current exchange rate.
Crimenetwork operators received 1-5% of all transactions, as well as charged a monthly subscription fee from sellers and received advertising revenue. As a result, law enforcement officials believe that since 2018, the site's administration has earned at least $5,000,000.
In addition to the arrest of the alleged Crimenetwork administrator, known by the nickname Techmin, the BKA claims to have received information about registered participants of the platform, and reports that more arrests can be expected in the future.
| “As part of the operation, extensive data on users and transactions was obtained, which gives us valuable information for further uncovering the criminal structures behind this platform,” law enforcement officials commented. |