Understanding darknet terminology is essential for staying safe. This glossary covers PGP verification, escrow systems, multisig wallets, Tor routing, and dozens of other terms.
PGP (Pretty Good Privacy)
An encryption standard used to verify the authenticity of onion links and communications. Markets publish PGP-signed link lists so users can confirm they are visiting the real site, not a phishing clone.
Escrow
A payment system where cryptocurrency funds are held by the market platform until both buyer and seller confirm the transaction is complete. Escrow protects buyers from non-delivery and sellers from charge-backs.
MultiSig (Multi-Signature)
A wallet type that requires multiple private keys (typically 2-of-3) to authorize a transaction. The buyer, seller, and market each hold one key. Funds can only be released when at least two parties agree, preventing exit scams.
2-FA (Two-Factor Authentication)
An extra login step requiring a PGP-encrypted challenge. After entering your password, you must decrypt a message with your private PGP key. This prevents account takeover even if your password is compromised.
FE (Finalize Early)
Releasing payment to the seller before receiving the product. This bypasses escrow protection and is risky. Only recommended for highly trusted vendors with long track records.
XMR (Monero)
A privacy-focused cryptocurrency. Unlike Bitcoin, Monero transactions are private by default. Amounts, sender, and receiver are hidden using ring signatures, stealth addresses, and RingCT. XMR is the preferred currency on most darknet markets.
Onion Routing / .onion
The traffic encryption method used by Tor. Data is wrapped in multiple layers of encryption and routed through at least three relays. Each relay removes one layer, so no single node knows both source and destination.
Mirror
An alternate URL for the same website. Markets provide multiple mirrors to ensure availability during DDoS attacks or when a specific .onion address is temporarily down. Always verify mirrors against PGP-signed link lists.
Walletless Pay
A payment method where you pay directly for each order without depositing funds into a market wallet first. This reduces exposure to exit scams since the market never holds your balance.
DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service)
An attack where thousands of connections flood a server to make it unavailable. Onion services are frequently targeted. Markets use multiple mirrors and proof-of-work captchas to mitigate DDoS attacks.
Dead Drop
A physical delivery method where the seller hides the package at GPS coordinates and sends the location to the buyer. Common in some Eastern European markets.
Clearnet
The regular internet accessible without Tor or special software. Some onion services provide clearnet mirrors as rotating entry points.