{"title":"Online Illegal Cryptomarkets","authors":"Dana L. Haynie, Scott W. Duxbury","doi":"10.1146/annurev-soc-090523-052916","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Cryptomarkets—online markets for illegal goods—have revolutionized the illegal drug trade, constituting about 10% of all drug trades and attracting users to a greater variety and more addictive substances than available in offline drug markets. This review introduces the burgeoning area of sociology research on illegal cryptomarkets, particularly in the realm of drug trade. We emphasize the expanding role of illicit online trade and its relevance for understanding broader exchange challenges encountered in all illegal trade settings. Examining the effects of online illegal trade on consumption and supply-side policing, we also discuss the harm and potential benefits of moving drug exchange from offline to online markets. We argue for a network perspective's efficacy in this research domain, emphasizing its relevance in assessing trade and discussion networks, technical innovation, and market evolution and vulnerabilities. Concluding, we outline future research areas, including market culture, failure, and the impact of online illegal trade on stratification.","PeriodicalId":51353,"journal":{"name":"Annual Review of Sociology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":8.9000,"publicationDate":"2024-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Annual Review of Sociology","FirstCategoryId":"90","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-soc-090523-052916","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"SOCIOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Cryptomarkets—online markets for illegal goods—have revolutionized the illegal drug trade, constituting about 10% of all drug trades and attracting users to a greater variety and more addictive substances than available in offline drug markets. This review introduces the burgeoning area of sociology research on illegal cryptomarkets, particularly in the realm of drug trade. We emphasize the expanding role of illicit online trade and its relevance for understanding broader exchange challenges encountered in all illegal trade settings. Examining the effects of online illegal trade on consumption and supply-side policing, we also discuss the harm and potential benefits of moving drug exchange from offline to online markets. We argue for a network perspective's efficacy in this research domain, emphasizing its relevance in assessing trade and discussion networks, technical innovation, and market evolution and vulnerabilities. Concluding, we outline future research areas, including market culture, failure, and the impact of online illegal trade on stratification.
期刊介绍:
The Annual Review of Sociology, established in 1975, provides comprehensive coverage of significant developments in the field of sociology. The journal encompasses a wide range of topics, including major theoretical and methodological advancements, as well as current research across major subfields within sociology.
Topics Covered:
Social Processes
Institutions and Culture
Organizations
Political and Economic Sociology
Stratification
Demography
Urban Sociology
Social Policy
Historical Sociology
Major Developments in Sociology in Other Regions of the World
Content:
Review chapters within the journal typically delve into these topics, offering in-depth analyses and insights into various aspects of sociology. These chapters serve to provide readers with a comprehensive understanding of the field's current state and recent advancements.