Silk Road

Silk Road was an underground online market where illegal goods and services were sold, such as drugs, weapons, and stolen data. It was created in 2011 and was shut down by the FBI in 2013, resulting in the arrest of its founder, Ross Ulbricht. The website used the anonymity of the dark web and the digital currency Bitcoin to facilitate transactions. It was named after the ancient trade route that connected China to the Mediterranean, emphasizing its global reach. Despite being illegal, Silk Road quickly gained popularity among buyers and sellers due to the ease of access and relative safety provided by the website’s encryption. However, the platform was eventually shut down due to concerns over the illegal activities happening there.