Despite challenges faced by darknet marketplaces worldwide, Russian platforms continued to dominate the illicit drug trade on cryptocurrency networks like Bitcoin and TRON. A recent report from blockchain forensic firm TRM Labs reveals that these markets saw a slight revenue increase in 2024, reaching over $1.7 billion, with Russian-language platforms accounting for a staggering 97% of total crypto drug sales. 2025’s Crypto Crime Report by TRM Labs indicates this dominance was driven by the relative safety afforded by law enforcement in Russia, enabling these platforms to flourish. 3 key factors were cited: a focus on synthetic drugs and access to cheap precursor chemicals from China, as well as a robust delivery model that utilizes dead drops and avoids exit scams.