Questions
The questions the desk is asked most, answered short.
What is the safest way to reach a market from this directory?
Copy an address from the verified block on the market entry, never type one from memory, open it in Tor Browser at the Safest setting, and check the address against the one the login captcha prints before entering a password.
Why does each market list several addresses?
Redundancy. Every listed address resolves to the same market with the same account and balance. When one is flooded the others answer, so the market stays reachable. Rotate across the signed list rather than waiting on a dead address.
Which coin should I use?
Monero by default, because it keeps the payment off a readable public ledger. Bitcoin only when a vendor requires it, Litecoin for small orders, Ethereum only when that is what you already hold. See the payments topic.
How do I know an address is genuine?
Verify it against the market's PGP-signed mirror list, and check it against the address printed in the login captcha. Two independent checks. See the desk article on verifying a mirror.
What is finalise-early and why avoid it?
Confirming receipt before the package arrives. It releases your escrow to the vendor and removes the dispute path. Never do it on an unproven vendor, whatever reason is offered.
Is there a clearnet version of these markets?
No. Every market in this directory is a Tor hidden service reachable only through Tor Browser. Any clearnet page claiming to be one of these markets is a phishing operation.
Which market is best for a first time?
Awazon reads like an ordinary online shop, and Nexus is the all-round reference entry. Both are filed as beginner-friendly. See the desk article on a first lookup.
Which market stays online best under a flood?
Mars, Osiris and TorZon are filed for resilience. TorZon runs seven concurrent onions and an access queue. Mars publishes the most live addresses. Osiris pairs a deep pool with fast moderators.