When it was still online, feshop stood out as one of the most active darknet marketplaces for stolen credit card data, fullz, and account credentials. But unlike traditional e-commerce platforms, Feshop didn’t accept Visa or PayPal—it operated on crypto anonymity.
Buyers and vendors relied heavily on digital currencies and privacy tools to hide their financial fingerprints. In this post, we’ll explore the payment methods that fueled Feshop’s underground economy—and how users attempted to stay off the radar.
? 1. Bitcoin (BTC) – The Default Currency
For years, Bitcoin was the most commonly accepted currency on Feshop. It was easy to find, easy to send, and supported by virtually every darknet market.
✅ Why Bitcoin Was Popular:
Widely available on crypto exchanges
Compatible with darknet escrow systems
Easy to generate new wallet addresses
❌ Why Bitcoin Was Not Truly Anonymous:
All transactions are permanently recorded on a public blockchain
Blockchain analysis tools can trace BTC flows
Many arrests happened because people bought BTC from KYC (ID-verified) exchanges and didn’t use mixers
? How Feshop Users Tried to Stay Private with BTC:
Used non-KYC wallets like Electrum or Wasabi
Ran funds through mixing/tumbling services to break transaction trails
Created a new wallet for every transaction
Used VPN + Tor to send funds from hidden IP addresses
?️♂️ 2. Monero (XMR) – The Privacy King
As surveillance techniques improved, Monero became the currency of choice for users who demanded true privacy.
✅ Why Monero Was the Most Anonymous:
Hides sender, receiver, and transaction amount
Uses ring signatures and stealth addresses
No transparent blockchain like Bitcoin
? Monero Best Practices:
Send and receive funds through local wallets (not browser-based)
Avoid centralized exchanges unless converting through non-KYC services
Store Monero in cold wallets or air-gapped devices
Feshop eventually allowed Monero payments, and many vendors even preferred it for high-risk transactions.
⚖️ 3. Litecoin, Dash, and Zcash – Secondary Options
These coins were sometimes supported for specific transactions, but they weren’t nearly as popular or secure.
? Litecoin (LTC):
Faster than BTC
Still public ledger—not private
? Dash:
Offers a “PrivateSend” feature
Not truly anonymous—traceable with effort
? Zcash:
Has both transparent and shielded transactions
Users often didn’t use privacy mode, defeating the purpose
In short: while technically available, these coins weren’t trusted by serious darknet users. Monero and properly handled Bitcoin remained the top two.
? 4. Wallet Payment Security Practices
Darknet users didn’t just choose a currency—they used tools and habits to protect their anonymity:
| Security Layer | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Cold Wallets | Keep crypto keys offline to prevent tracking or theft |
| Air-Gapped Devices | Prevent wallet interaction with the internet entirely |
| Tails or Qubes OS | Prevent logging and tracing during transactions |
| Multiple Wallets | Use separate wallets for deposits, mixing, and purchases |
| No Reused Addresses | Prevent linking of transactions on the blockchain |
? What Happens If You Don’t Use Privacy Tools?
Several Feshop users were caught because they:
Bought crypto from Coinbase or Binance with real ID
Sent BTC directly from their main wallet to the vendor
Used a regular browser or phone to access darknet sites
Linked wallet activity to email addresses or reused usernames
Once law enforcement seized Feshop’s servers, transaction logs combined with blockchain data became digital evidence.
Final Word: Privacy Is a Process, Not a Coin
Even the most “anonymous” cryptocurrency isn’t truly private without proper habits. Feshop’s payment system showed that your choice of coin matters—but how you use it matters more.
