Torzon DevBlog

In response to the recent wave of distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks targeting the darknet ecosystem, Torzon has successfully deployed the Aegis Mitigation System. This update fundamentally changes how our frontend handles incoming Tor requests, ensuring 99.9% uptime even during peak attack vectors.

The DDoS Landscape in 2025

Competitor markets and extortion gangs have been utilizing botnets to flood Tor circuits with "junk" requests. This causes traditional Onion services to timeout. If you have experienced "Torzon Down" or "502 Bad Gateway" errors recently, this was the cause. The Aegis system introduces a dynamic Proof-of-Work (PoW) challenge that operates at the protocol level.

What This Means for Users

You may notice a "Computing PoW..." screen when first accessing the main index. This is your browser solving a cryptographic puzzle to prove you are human. Do not close the tab. It typically takes 5-15 seconds. Additionally, we are now rotating our private mirrors more frequently. Always fetch the latest working links from our signed Mirrors Page or verified aggregators like Tor.taxi.

Torzon Market was built on the principles of anonymity and freedom. Bitcoin (BTC), despite its popularity, no longer serves these principles effectively in a darknet context. Blockchain surveillance firms (Chainalysis, Elliptic) have developed advanced heuristics to track BTC transaction graphs, deanonymizing users who do not practice perfect OpSec.

Why We Are Dropping Bitcoin

Bitcoin uses a transparent public ledger. Every deposit you make to a market wallet is permanently recorded. If you withdraw from a KYC exchange (Coinbase, Binance) directly to a market, you are exposed. Even utilizing "mixers" is becoming risky as exchanges flag mixed coins as "High Risk" and freeze accounts.

The Monero Standard

Monero (XMR) is non-negotiable for safety. It utilizes Ring Signatures (to hide the sender), RingCT (to hide the amount), and Stealth Addresses (to hide the receiver). When you deposit XMR to Torzon, it is mathematically impossible for an outside observer to link that transaction to your personal wallet. We strongly advise all users to learn how to swap BTC to XMR using tools like LocalMonero (now archived) or eXch.

Our security team has identified a sophisticated phishing campaign targeting Torzon users. Malicious actors are purchasing ads on clearnet search engines (Google, Bing) and spamming links on Reddit/Dread that look identical to our official URLs but contain slight misspellings (Typosquatting).

Anatomy of the Scam

The attackers create a "Man-in-the-Middle" (MitM) site. When you enter your credentials, they forward them to the real Torzon site, logging you in. However, when you go to deposit funds, they swap the deposit address on the screen with their own. You believe you are depositing to your wallet, but you are sending coins to the scammer.

How to Verify Real Links

• PGP Verification: This is the only 100% secure method. The login page contains a message signed by our admin PGP key. Import our key (found on /security) and verify the signature. If it fails, you are on a phishing site.
• Bookmark V3 Onions: Once you verify a link, bookmark it. Never type the address manually or click links from Wikis that anyone can edit.
• Check the Clock: Many phishing sites have static captchas or clocks that do not tick. Ensure the server time matches reality.

We have updated our Security Guide with a step-by-step tutorial on spotting these clones.

To maintain the highest quality of listings, we are updating the requirements for new vendor applications. The darknet market ecosystem relies on trust, and low barriers to entry often invite scammers. Effective immediately, the vendor bond has been raised.

New Bond Requirements

The standard vendor bond is now $750 USD (payable in XMR). This bond is held in escrow by the market for a minimum of 6 months. It serves as insurance against exit scams. If a vendor disappears or selectively scams buyers, this bond is used to compensate victims.

Bond Waivers for Established Vendors

We recognize that many legitimate vendors operate on multiple markets (Archetyp, Abacus, etc.). If you have an established reputation (Level 5+ or >500 sales) on another reputable market, you may apply for a Bond Waiver. You will need to verify your identity by signing a message with your PGP key used on the other platform. This allows trusted vendors to migrate to Torzon without upfront costs.

We have rolled out a significant update to the internal wallet infrastructure. This "Quality of Life" update focuses on privacy and risk reduction for both buyers and vendors.

Unique Sub-addresses

Previously, users had a single deposit address. Now, Torzon generates a fresh sub-address for every deposit request. This prevents blockchain analysis from linking multiple deposits to the same user entity. Even though Monero is private, using sub-addresses adds a layer of "plausible deniability" and hygiene to your OpSec.

Vendor Auto-Withdraw

Vendors can now configure an "Auto-Withdraw Threshold". If your available balance exceeds a set amount (e.g., 10 XMR), the system will automatically broadcast a transaction to your cold wallet. This minimizes the amount of funds held in the market's hot wallet, protecting your earnings from server seizures or market-wide hacks.