With the Empire Falling, Who Will Take Over the Throne?

This report analyzes the dark web marketplace ecosystem following the Empire Market exit scam, comparing candidate markets by security and usability features (multisig, forced PGP, 2FA, vendor bonds, commission rates, payment methods). It highlights the rapid growth and community distrust around Icarus Market, contrasts English- and Russian-language platform dynamics, evaluates alternatives such as forums and messaging apps, and concludes that convenience and large user bases will likely perpetuate the marketplace model and the cycle of exit scams.