Telegram shuts down major darknet market
Telegram has shut down Haowang Guarantee, formerly known as Huione Guarantee, one of the largest known darknet marketplaces suspected of enabling crypto scams and cybercrime. The decision follows a massive purge on May 13, 2025, where thousands of related accounts, groups, and channels were blocked.
“All our NFTs, channels, and groups were banned by Telegram on May 13, 2025. Haowang Guarantee will cease operations effective immediately,” stated a message on the marketplace’s website.
A report from Wired revealed that the marketplace operated through an extensive network of Telegram accounts that facilitated anonymous cryptocurrency transactions and illicit activity. A Telegram spokesperson confirmed that all groups previously reported by Wired or mentioned in reports by blockchain analytics firm Elliptic were taken down. The company emphasized that criminal activities like scamming or money laundering violate Telegram’s terms of service and are removed once discovered.
This marks one of Telegram’s most direct actions against organized digital crime and highlights increased enforcement on the platform.
