US Seizes 145 Domains and Crypto Linked to BidenCash Dark Web Market

US law enforcement has seized 145 domains and an unspecified quantity of cryptocurrency linked to BidenCash, a notorious dark web marketplace. The site is said to have trafficked in millions of stolen credit cards and personally identifiable information. The operation, which was unveiled on June 5 by the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, was carried out in collaboration with the US Secret Service and FBI. Seized domains now divert to law enforcement-controlled servers. BidenCash Enabled Widespread Data Theft Launched in March 2022, BidenCash quickly became a hub for cybercrime activity with over 117,000 users. It facilitated the sale of over 15 million payment card numbers and personally identifiable information that were stolen. As a promotional effort from October 2022 to February 2023, the site gave away 3.3 million stolen card records for free—an aggressive marketing tactic aimed at attracting new customers. Authorities estimate the marketplace generated more than $17 million in illicit revenue. Crypto Assets Also Targeted Along with the domain seizures, US officials obtained court permission to seize cryptocurrency assets linked to the operations of BidenCash. The amount of cryptocurrency seized was not disclosed. The operation was led by the Frankfurt Resident Office of the US Secret Service, its Cyber Investigative Section, and the Albuquerque Field Office of the FBI. Officials stated that the operation is part of a sustained effort to dismantle crypto-enabled criminal networks across the dark web. BidenCash Added to the Growing List of Takedowns The BidenCash shutdown follows Operation RapTor, a massive dark web crackdown in May that brought down various drug trafficking websites. That effort led to 270 arrests in 10 countries and the seizure of around $200 million in assets, much of it in cryptocurrency. Earlier in March, US officials sanctioned Nemesis darknet marketplace operators, another closed-down darknet market. The assets sanctioned were 44 Bitcoin and five Monero addresses that had collectively received over $850,000 between 2022 and 2024. Darknet Market Activity Surging Dark markets generated $1.7 billion in revenue in 2024, a modest year-on-year increase, per TRM Labs’ 2025 Crypto Crime Report. The report notes that Russian-language markets dominate the sector, in great part due to the fact that there is no expectation of Russian law enforcement cracking down on them. The takedown of BidenCash reflects the ongoing challenge for global agencies combating cybercrime and the increasing role of cryptocurrency in illicit online economies.

Source: BTC Pulse