Almost one-half of the darknet sites surveyed by the Australian National University exercise not offer COVID-19 'treatments' or protective equipment.

Researchers constitute that eight out of xx markets do not sell any items related to coronavirus with another nine selling a very limited selection. Simply three sites accounted for the vast majority (85%) of all unique items sold.

The written report was commissioned by Australian Institute of Criminology and monitored 20  darknet markets on April three to conduct a census of COVID-19 related medical products and supplies.

The researchers found 645 listings on auction in exchange for cryptocurrency, including personal protective equipment (PPE), 'vaccines', diagnostic equipment, and one fifty-fifty claimed to offer a claret sample from a recovered coronavirus patient. The researchers were not permitted to purchase the item then were unable to assess the actuality of such items.

Evidence of a darknet conscience?

Titled "Availability of COVID-19 related products on Tor darknet markets" the study stated that "offense follows opportunity and the COVID-19 pandemic offers profiteering arising from shortages and fearfulness".

While some were quick to jump on the financial opportunities presented past the pandemic — the products surveyed were valued at $240,000 USD — the fact that almost half were devoid of such listings may suggest some darknet operators take more scruples than is commonly believed.

Speaking to Cointelegraph, study author Professor Roderic Broadhurst speculated on the absence of COVID-19 related products on sure sites:

"Basically different markets view take a chance differently. Many already ban products like child abuse materials and sure drugs/poisons/etc and so ethics [are] besides relevant. Of course some markets have no such scruples and may consider themselves bullet proof."

Gratuitous market on darknet

Of course many darknet markets happily sell drugs, weapons and trade in stolen credit cards and personal data. Some corners of the darknet are worse than others: Cointelegraph recently reported that over $900,000 in Bitcoin (BTC) went to the purchase of child sexual abuse material on the darkent in 2022.