Skip to content
PLUGGUIDE
Guide·forum·darknet·germany·eu·community·c-network-to·harm-reduction·opsec·seized

c-network.to alternatives 2026 — CrimeNetwork forums that still work

c-network.to was seized again in May 2026. Here's what actually still works for the German-speaking community, and what to avoid.

Axel L.
Axel L.
Lead investigator · scam network exposésStockholm

What happened to CrimeNetwork

On May 8, 2026, the BKA (Bundeskriminalamt) announced the takedown of the rebooted CrimeNetwork platform at c-network.to. The German operator was arrested in Spain.

This was the second seizure. The original CrimeNetwork was shut down in December 2024 with its administrator arrested. Within days, a new operator rebuilt the platform under the same brand name and the domain c-network.to. That relaunch amassed over 22,000 users and more than 100 active vendors before law enforcement caught up again.

Key facts from the BKA press release:

  • Platform revenue exceeded 3.6 million EUR
  • 194,000 EUR in assets seized
  • Transactions in Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Monero
  • Operated by a German national arrested in Spain
  • Led by Generalstaatsanwaltschaft Frankfurt am Main, supported by Eurojust, ZIT Hessen, Belgian and Spanish police
  • Full user and transaction data seized (22,000+ accounts)

The seizure banner is still live at c-network.to, hosted on AWS CloudFront, and references bka.de/crimenetwork and bustedagaincrime.network.

c-network.to seizure banner from BKA

What's actually still up

The following platforms were verified as operational during our check on May 19, 2026. This is not an endorsement. Every platform carries its own risks.

cstate.to

The most active German-language darknet forum that emerged after the CrimeNetwork void. Clearnet-accessible with Tor mirror available. Functions as a marketplace and community forum with vendor profiles, escrow, and an active user base. Has established itself as the primary successor for German-speaking users who previously used c-network.to.

  • Access: Clearnet + Tor mirror
  • Type: Forum / marketplace
  • Language: German
  • Escrow: Yes
  • Scam risk: Moderate — legitimate platform but always verify vendors independently

crimesters.to

Another German-language platform that grew rapidly post-seizure. Smaller than cstate.to but with a tighter community. Focuses more on the forum/discussion side with vendor sections. Less commercialized, more community-driven.

  • Access: Clearnet
  • Type: Forum with marketplace
  • Language: German
  • Escrow: Varies by vendor arrangement
  • Scam risk: Moderate — newer platform, vendor verification less established

Dread (onion)

The Reddit-style discussion hub for darknet communities. Still operational on Tor. Functions as a meta-forum where individual market subreddits exist. Most useful for vendor reviews and market status updates. Not a marketplace itself.

  • Access: Tor (.onion only)
  • Type: Forum / discussion board
  • Language: Primarily English, German-language subdreads exist
  • Scam risk: Low for the platform itself (no commerce), but linked markets vary

DarknetLive

A clearnet news and index site covering darknet markets, busts, and security news. Not a forum or marketplace. Useful as a reference for which markets are currently operational and which have been seized or exit-scammed.

  • Access: Clearnet
  • Type: News / index
  • Language: English
  • Scam risk: N/A (informational only)

Other platforms

We deliberately do not list unverified "alternatives" promoted on clearnet scam-review blogs or in Telegram channels. Many supposed CrimeNetwork successors are phishing operations or scammer honeypots. See the next section.

What to avoid

The CrimeNetwork seizure created a vacuum, and scammers rush to fill vacuums. Here's what to watch for:

"Official CrimeNetwork mirror" sites

There is no official mirror. The domain is seized, the operator is arrested, and the full database is in BKA hands. Anyone claiming to run an "official backup" or "mirror" of CrimeNetwork is lying to you. They want your login credentials (which are now compromised anyway since BKA has the database) or your money.

Telegram-only "alternative" channels

Telegram channels advertising themselves as CrimeNetwork replacements are overwhelmingly scam operations. They require upfront payment, have no escrow, no reputation system, and no accountability. The channel admin is usually the only "vendor," and they disappear after collecting enough deposits.

Pump-and-dump forum forks

New forums that appeared within days of the seizure, claiming large user counts and established vendor bases, are fabricated. A legitimate community migration takes weeks and happens through trusted channels (typically Dread announcements or PGP-verified canary pages), not through clearnet advertising.

Recycled brands

If a site uses the CrimeNetwork name or branding and claims to be a "community continuation," consider that BKA seized the full user database. Any site claiming continuity with the same accounts is either lying about its user base or, worse, is a law enforcement honeypot.

OPSEC reminders

If you're navigating this landscape:

  • Assume compromise. 22,000+ user accounts and transaction records are in BKA hands. If you used c-network.to, your account data is seized.
  • PGP verify everything. Before trusting any "new platform" announcement, verify it's signed by a key you already trusted before the seizure.
  • Unique credentials. If you reused passwords between c-network.to and anything else, change them now.
  • Tor for forums. Clearnet forums for this purpose are surveillance-friendly by design.
  • No JS, no exceptions. Security slider on maximum in Tor Browser.

FAQ

Is c-network.to still accessible?

No. The domain displays a seizure banner from the BKA. The platform infrastructure, user database, and transaction records have been seized by German law enforcement as of May 8, 2026.

What happened to CrimeNetwork users' data?

The BKA's press release explicitly states that "umfangreiche Nutzer- als auch Transaktionsdaten" (extensive user and transaction data) were seized. All 22,000+ accounts and their associated transaction history are in law enforcement hands.

Is there a legitimate CrimeNetwork successor?

No verified legitimate successor exists as of this writing. Any site claiming to be an "official" continuation should be treated with extreme skepticism, as BKA holds the full database and the operator is in custody.

Are Telegram channels safe alternatives?

No. Telegram-based "alternatives" that appeared after the seizure are overwhelmingly scam operations with no escrow, no reputation system, and no accountability. They exploit the sudden demand from displaced users.

Which darknet forums are still operational in 2026?

Dread (Tor-only) remains the primary discussion hub. DarknetLive provides clearnet news coverage. We do not endorse or recommend specific marketplaces. Use Dread's subdreads for current market status information from the community.