Ares

Ares Market, established in the second half of 2021, has quickly gained prominence as a medium-sized darknet market with a unique, scratch-built design featuring a refreshing "dark mode" theme. Boasting over 7,200 listings, 160 vendors, and 14,000 members, Ares maintains 10 market mirrors and employs an exceptionally easy captcha system for user convenience. Registering on Ares is straightforward, requiring only a username and password. The market prioritizes a buyer-oriented approach, implementing strict vetting rules for vendors. Vendors must have a minimum two-year history on other markets, a 95% or better positive feedback rate, and a minimum of 500 completed sales, verified through Recon, the darknet market search engine. Ares displays a diverse product selection with categories conveniently arranged alphabetically, offering an efficient browsing experience. While featuring typical digital items like e-books and tutorials, the market stands out with an extensive drug selection, divided into over 30 subcategories, with cannabis-related categories being particularly popular. Ares utilizes a wallet-less, per-order escrow system called Direct Pay, eliminating the need for pre-funding. Buyers can choose between BTC and XMR as payment options, with funds sent to a designated address upon order placement. Successful vendors may achieve Finalize Early (FE) status, and the market supports a refund address configuration for buyers.