US law enforcement has dealt a major blow to BidenCash, one of the dark web's best-known illegal marketplaces. According to a statement by the Department of Justice, 145 internet domains linked to BidenCash and approximately $17 million in cryptocurrencies were seized as part of the FBI-led operation.
More than 15 million credit card details sold
BidenCash, which has been operating since 2022, attracted attention by selling stolen credit card information, personal data and compromised login credentials on the dark web and open internet. The platform offered its users the opportunity to pay anonymously with cryptocurrency, providing both privacy and making it difficult to track. BidenCash, which is thought to have generated at least $17 million in revenue, served approximately 117,000 users.
The platform also reportedly released millions of credit card details for free from time to time to expand its illegal operations. According to officials, between October 2022 and February 2023, 3.3 million credit card details were shared for free for promotional purposes. This data included highly sensitive information such as card numbers, expiration dates, CVV codes, first and last names, addresses, e-mail and phone numbers.
A major operation was carried out with global cooperation
The operation was not limited to the US. In addition to the FBI, the US Secret Service, the Dutch National Police, and cybersecurity organizations such as the Shadowserver Foundation and Searchlight Cyber were also part of the operation. The 145 domains in question are currently redirected to official US government seizure pages.
However, according to Arkham Intelligence data, authorities seized approximately $43,000 in Tether (USDT) assets during the operation. Although BidenCash's infrastructure was largely taken down, cybersecurity experts revealed that some domains linked to the platform are still active. Security researcher Vmprotect, using a tool called Domainhunter.pro, has identified at least seven active domains.
New era against crypto-focused crimes
The year 2025 is characterized by law enforcement's tough fight against dark web and crypto-based crimes. In May, Europol detained hundreds of people in 10 different countries as part of “Operation RapTor” against the cryptocurrency-funded fentanyl trade. The BidenCash operation is seen as an extension of this global crackdown.
Cryptocurrencies are frequently preferred for illegal activities due to their privacy and ease of cross-border transfer. However, as we have seen in examples like BidenCash, it is impossible to say that these illegal systems are “undetectable”.
