Overview
AlphaBay was the largest darknet marketplace in history at the time of its seizure in July 2017. Founded by Alexandre Cazes (alias "Alpha02"), it operated from December 2014 until Operation Bayonet shut it down.
400K+
Users
40K
Vendors
350K
Listings
$1B+
Annual Volume
Rise to Dominance
AlphaBay launched in December 2014, filling the vacuum left by Silk Road 2.0s seizure. It offered:
- Multi-cryptocurrency support (Bitcoin, Monero, Ethereum)
- Sophisticated escrow and dispute resolution
- Vendor bonds and tiered verification
- Forums and community features
The Downfall
Alexandre Cazes made a critical mistake: he used his personal Hotmail address (pimp_alex_91@hotmail.com) in AlphaBays early password reset emails. This led investigators to identify him.
KEY EVENTS
- July 5, 2017: Cazes arrested in Thailand
- July 5, 2017: AlphaBay goes offline
- July 12, 2017: Cazes found dead in Thai prison cell
- July 20, 2017: DOJ announces seizure, reveals Hansa trap
2021 Revival
In August 2021, a new AlphaBay emerged, claiming to be run by original administrator "DeSnake" who was not arrested in 2017. The revived market operates with enhanced security but remains controversial.