Operational Documentation

Nexus Market is a premier decentralized trading platform established in late 2023, engineered for secure and anonymous commerce. The architecture prioritizes user privacy through walletless payment flows, eliminating the need for centralized account wallets that can be seized. We support Bitcoin (BTC), Monero (XMR), and Litecoin (LTC), with a strong structural emphasis on XMR for its untraceable properties. The platform operates without vendor bonds to lower barriers to entry for verified merchants.

.onion identifiers represent hidden services accessible exclusively via the Tor network. Unlike standard DNS resolutions, these addresses route traffic through a decentralized mesh of encrypted relays, obscuring both the server's location and the user's IP address. This layered encryption protocol ensures end-to-end anonymity, rendering the connection opaque to ISP surveillance and traffic analysis.

Access requires the Tor Browser (latest stable build). Configure your security settings to "Safest" (disabling JavaScript globally) to mitigate browser-based exploit vectors. Navigate using only verified mirrors signed by our PGP key. We strongly advise running Tor over a secure OS like Tails or Whonix to compartmentalize your network traffic from your host operating system.

Registration is permissionless and requires no PII (Personally Identifiable Information). Generate a unique username and a high-entropy password. You must establish a distinct 6-digit PIN for financial operations. Upon creation, the system generates a mnemonic seed phrase. This seed is the cryptographic key to your account; if lost, account recovery is mathematically impossible. Store it offline immediately.

Authentication of mirrors must be performed cryptographically. Locate the signed message containing valid mirrors on our Links or About page. Import the Nexus Market Public PGP Key into your GPG keychain (e.g., Kleopatra, GPG4Win). Execute a "Verify Signature" operation on the message. Only proceed if the signature status returns Good/Valid. Reliance on unsigned links from third-party wikis creates a critical security vulnerability.

The platform employs industry-leading security measures, including forced PGP 2FA for vendors, auto-encryption of messages, and a strict no-logs policy for IP addresses and access times. However, platform security cannot compensate for poor user OpSec. Safety requires user discipline: exclusively use Monero (XMR), manually encrypt sensitive data client-side before submission, and utilize a dedicated OS for market activities.

PGP Two-Factor Authentication is the gold standard for account security. Upon login, the server presents a random encrypted challenge string. You must decrypt this string using your private key and return the plaintext token. This proves ownership of the PGP key and renders password theft useless. It effectively neutralizes phishing attacks and credential stuffing, and is mandatory for all vendor accounts.

We support Bitcoin (BTC), Litecoin (LTC), and Monero (XMR). XMR is the preferred standard for all transactions due to RingCT and stealth addresses, which obfuscate sender, receiver, and amount. The platform utilizes a "Direct Pay" system for orders, generating a unique sub-address for each invoice, thereby reducing the risk associated with holding funds in a central market wallet.

The escrow protocol acts as a trustless intermediary. Buyer funds are locked in a multisig-style holding state upon order placement. The vendor is notified to dispatch. Funds remain locked until the buyer confirms receipt and integrity of the goods ("Finalize"), or the auto-finalization timer expires (configurable 7-21 days). In the event of a dispute, market moderators intervene to adjudicate based on provided evidence.

User deposit fees are 0%. A standard network withdrawal fee of 1% is applied to outgoing transactions to cover miner fees and mixin services. The minimum withdrawal threshold is set dynamically around $3 USD equivalent. Vendors are subject to a sales commission, deducted automatically at the point of order finalization. There are no startup costs or bonds for basic vendor accounts.

Vendor status is open to all users who meet security prerequisites. The vendor bond is currently waived ($0.00). Applicants must first secure their account with PGP 2FA. Once enabled, navigate to the "Become a Vendor" tab. Vendors are contractually bound to our Terms of Service, requiring accurate listings, prompt shipping, and adherence to the Prohibited Items list.

The dispute system is an arbitration mechanism for failed trades. If goods are not received or differ significantly from the description, the buyer may initiate a dispute within the protection window (3 days post-escrow expiry). This freezes the funds and summons a moderator. Both parties must submit evidence (logs, tracking, photos). The moderator has the authority to issue full refunds, partial refunds, or release funds to the vendor.

To ensure platform longevity, we enforce a strict Acceptable Use Policy. Prohibited listings include: Fentanyl and related synthetic opioids, weaponry/explosives, poisons, CP (zero tolerance), and services related to violence or doxxing. Violation of these prohibitions results in immediate account termination and blacklisting.

Tor network volatility or DDoS mitigation can cause temporary unreachability. If the main onion is unresponsive, cycle through the verified mirrors listed on our Links page. Verify your system clock is synchronized to UTC, as significant drift prevents Tor circuit establishment. If you encounter a CAPTCHA loop or queue, do not refresh aggressively; wait for the circuit to stabilize.

Technical support is facilitated exclusively through the internal ticketing system for registered users. Navigate to "Support" > "New Ticket". For account lockouts where login is impossible, refer to our official PGP-signed status updates on Dread or major darknet forums. We do not offer support via clear-net email or instant messaging platforms.