Frequently asked: the working set
Honest answers to the questions buyers ask, organised by what you actually need to know to be operational.
Are these markets safe to use?
Safer than the previous generation. Both run multisig escrow as default and Monero as default. Whether you should use them at all depends on your risk tolerance and what you are buying; that decision is yours.
Why does this atlas list only two markets?
The smaller markets either skip multisig, default to Bitcoin, or do not maintain a working mirror rotation. We track markets that pass all three checks. Adding the rest would dilute the signal.
What if a mirror does not load?
Try the next mirror in the table. The Primary is behind the platform's anti-DDoS layer; the Backups are on different guard relays. If all three time out, hit "New Tor Circuit for this Site" in Tor Browser. If still nothing, the platform is dealing with a flood; come back in twenty minutes.
How long does a Monero deposit take?
Wallet send to platform credit is typically under fifteen minutes. If a deposit shows pending past thirty minutes, verify the transaction broadcast (check your wallet's sent log).
What is the buyer-side cost?
The order price plus the on-chain fee from your wallet. Neither platform charges a buyer commission. Monero on-chain fees are negligible.
How do disputes work?
Either party opens a ticket from the order page. The platform freezes escrow. The dispute panel reads buyer evidence and vendor counter-evidence. The panel signs to release in proportion to the ruling. Published SLA on first contact is measured in hours.
What if I lose my account credentials?
Recovery flows exist but are friction-heavy. Save password and 2FA setup material to a password manager from day one. The dispute panel cannot recover an account it has no proof of ownership for.
Should I switch markets if I have history on one?
Probably not. Feedback weight on darknet markets accrues per platform; switching means starting from zero. Stay where you have history.