Look beyond digital currencies’ seedy past to their fintech future
The days of the dark web are over, propelling cryptocurrency companies to the cutting edge of fintech sector innovation
Ever since the bitcoin network first came online in January 2009, its use has often been associated with grey market activities. Before mainstream adoption, the dark web, a shady online marketplace where anonymous users can buy or sell anything from illegal guns and stolen contraband to narcotics and malware, was a prime hub for early bitcoin activity.
While dark web activity remains a source of frustration in the cryptocurrency sector, industry stakeholders are quick to point out that the share of bitcoin-related transactions on the dark web has plummeted since international law enforcement operations in 2013 and 2017 shut down Silk Road and AlphaBay, two of the biggest dark web markets accepting cryptocurrency...
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